Verdict
Summary
For a very indie, off-the-grid produced effort, HeBG TV is quite impressive with a homegrown can-do spirit, but there are some segments that feel wrong for the demographic they’re aiming for.
Plot:
Two kids are visited by a supernatural goofball on Halloween, and he forces them to watch an otherworldly device called HeBGB TV, which can literally transform the hearts and minds of anyone who watches it.
Review:
On Halloween, two unaccompanied kids – a brother and a sister – get a package delivered to their doorstep, and it ain’t a pizza. They open it, and it’s a weird, organic cable-style black box device called HeBGB TV, and when they plug it into their TV set, a Purple Guy (played by some actor / performer named Knucklehead) pops out of the ether and declares that he’s their host to this otherworldly device. He all but forces them to watch the programming, and thus begins a sort of anthology of bizarre segments, all set around Halloween. Some of them are really funny like the animated segment about candy corn (the best one, no contest), while others are like little music videos or quick stories about people watching HeBGB TV, and even a bunch of commercials. One of the better shorts focuses on a public access 1-900 call to a trans monster girl who just wants to take your call and talk freaky. At the end, the world has basically succumbed to the mind-melting effect that HeBGB TV has had on the population, but for some reason the Purple Guy can’t transform the two kids into his minions.
For a very indie, off-the-grid produced effort, HeBG TV is quite impressive with a homegrown can-do spirit, but there are some segments that feel wrong for the demographic they’re aiming for. If it was more on the level of a darker Pee-Wee’s Playhouse and stuck to that thread it would be great, but there are times when it pushes a little too hard into queer territory on purpose just to “go there.” Since the protagonists are two children, the movie should be more playful, less profane, and not in the least bit sexual, but like I said: It goes there. I really did appreciate all the practical effects, the make-up, the stop-motion, and even the music was good, but at times it was not focused enough to be pure. That said, I was impressed by the overall effort and accomplishment of it. Adam Lenhart, Eric Griffin, and Jake McClellan collaborated on the directing duties (and everything else).
Scream Team Releasing’s DVD of HeBGB TV comes packed with a commentary, bonus shorts, a trailer, and more. It’s also available on Blu-ray.
