No typo here. This film is not about rockers The Ramones but a fictional all female Canadian rock group The Madones. They had their only big hit,” Mad Ones” twenty years ago. We know these bands as one hit wonders. Three sisters Rose (Lucy De Coutere), Gladys and Stella (Terra Doyle) were in this all-girls band.
The years have not been kind to the ladies. Rose is a schizophrenic plagued by imaginary voices. Stella is bitter for having been the sole care giver for sister Rose. Gladys blames Stella for killing The Madones. None of them have been in happy relationships. While Rose can be said to be a “Mad One” Stella and Gladys are mad in the angry sense. Collectively they are indeed the mad ones!
The characters in this film are odd and eccentric if not comedic. Adonis (Mark A. Owen), Stella’s husband just released from prison and his buddy Dolls (Bryden Macdonald) have planned a big heist of a bank that doesn’t exist and in furtherance of the job have kidnapped the former assistant bank manager Wayne (Hans Böggild) no longer working at the bank thinking he is the manager of the bank. Wayne also wants to be kidnapped.
Besides delving into a dysfunctional family and portraying the effects of schizophrenia the plot can be puzzling and meandering but that is fine as the cinematography can be delightfully artsy inherently both stark and lush. The black and white cinematography contributes to the eccentricity and harsh reality the characters live in. The numerous songs all tell a story central to the film’s actions.
A true indie film. Abstract. Well shot. Well acted. Limited commercial appeal but could it be one day be seen as a cult film aka “This is Spinal Tap” ?
Limited Canadian theatrical release 16February2024 and VOD Digital release 26March2024.
RKS 2024 Film Rating 84/100,
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