Wednesday, October 16, 2019

Movie Review: "Love in Kilnerry" (2019)

Director: Daniel Keith and Snorri Sturluson
Year: 2019
Rating: NR
Running Time: 1 hour, 40 minutes

The EPA has recently informed the small town of Kilnerry that a side effect from a new chemical being produced at their local plant might increase libidos. Shortly after, it causes the townspeople to let go, lose their inhibitions, and have fun. The town's sexually repressed sheriff is troubled by this recent development.

Love in Kilnerry 2019 indie movie still featuring Kathy Searle looking out a window with binoculars
"I'm always over-sexing. I just can't find a man to keep up with me." (Image Source)
Everything is infinitely funnier when it's done by senior citizens. At least that's the hope for "Love in Kilnerry" writer/director Daniel Keith and co-director Snorri Sturluson. Kilnerry is a picturesque New England town that is set in its traditional small-town ways. The only big thing Kilnerry has is a chemical plant that produces an additive to dog shampoo. When the EPA comes to town and mandates that the chemical plant converts its toxic runoff into a new chemical, they warn the townspeople that the new additive might significantly increase sexual libido as a side effect.  Almost immediately after this process begins, the townspeople of Kilnerry start to lose their inhibitions, let their guard down, and act on their more primal sexual instincts, changing the course of many of their otherwise mundane lives. This has worked out fantastically well for some residents. The town's sexually repressed sheriff (Daniel Keith), on the other hand, struggles to come to terms with Kilnerry's more liberated, more outwardly public attitude toward sensuality.
James Patrick Nelson featured in a "Love in Kilnerry" movie scene after he strips naked in church as a nudist
"This may not mean much to you, but if I do a handstand, I can teabag myself." (Image Source)
"Love in Kilnerry" is a low budget sex comedy with an underlying message of social acceptance. Its primary source of comedy comes from the town's elderly residents initially freaking out at the prospect of people having increased amounts of coitus. Very quickly, most Kilnerryans/Kilnerryites/Kilnerryinos embrace the idea of heightened libidos and begin to freely and happily express themselves where they were once more restrained and repressed. Young adults talking about sex is expected, but when it's older people delivering jokes about their erections (or lack thereof), it makes for some solid awkward humor that we thought worked quite effectively most of the time. We admit that not every joke is a slam dunk, but we laughed a lot throughout the film's runtime.

Beyond the abundance of old-people-sex-jokes, "Love in Kilnerry" preaches a message of "live and let live," which we absolutely agree with 110%. Sheriff O'Reilly has a big problem with the town's more unrestricted sexual attitude. Consciously or not, he often shames the people he cares about the most for being "indecent" and tells them they are setting a bad example and being embarrassments to the town. His mannerisms are understandable considering American culture has spent virtually its entire existence trying to hinder people from the various expressions of love. American youth are taught that our bodies and our (very natural) sex drives are things we should be ashamed of, which creates self-conscious, sheltered adults who can't show emotion or adequately express their passion and appreciation in healthy ways. The sheriff is a stand-in for all the people who cling to this attitude because they are scared of what they will do if people are allowed to be themselves. As time goes on, Sheriff O'Reilly must learn that it's not his business how others choose to lead their sexual lives, that not all nudity is sexual in nature, and that he is (and has been) out of line for chastizing people who want to express and verbalize their sexuality.
Daniel Keith and Kathy Searle kiss in a picture for 2019's film Love in Kilnerry
"Just tear away the cobwebs and hit this!" (Image Source)
"Love in Kilnerry" likely won't see a countrywide theatrical release, but we sure hope it winds up on a streaming service soon because it is a genuinely fun film. Sure, some of the technical aspects are a little rough, and yes, some of the acting is a bit stiff, but overall, we had a great time watching this raunchy, ballsy comedy with a terrific underlying message.

**"Love in Kilnerry" has been selected to screen as part of the 2019 San Diego International Film Festival. It will be playing on October 17th, 2019 at 2:00 pm at the Pendry Hotel, and October 19th, 2019 at 1:00 pm at the Arclight Cinemas in La Jolla. To buy tickets, click here!**

My Rating: 7.5/10
BigJ's Rating: 7/10
IMDB's Rating: ---/10
RT Rating: ---%
Do we recommend this movie: Sure, why not?

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