King of Herrings
Dir: Eddie Jemison and Sean Richardson
Starring: Eddie Jemison, Joe Chrest, Laura Lamson, Andrea
Frankle, David Jenson, Wayne Pére, John Mese, and Carl Palmer
“King of Herrings” starts in a bar with a group of
friends who have known each other for too long. The typical banter and
storytelling of these round table revelries ensues, escalating in emotion and
culminating in a shouting match that introduces the beginning of the end for
the ever-so-thin bonds holding a long friendship together. The situation sounds
like the beginning verse of the blues song, the music that identifies the New
Orleans streets this ragtag group of men traverse. Written and directed by
Eddie Jemison and Sean Richardson, “King of Herrings” is darkly humorous and at
times a richly poignant portrayal of friendship and masculinity.
Ditch (Eddie Jemison) is a one of those friends
everyone knows; he is loud, egotistical, and brash, that friend that rubs
everyone the wrong way. Though Ditch has found his merry men, a group of guys
that seem to accept him and all his faults, his attitude has finally exhausted
his friends. During a night of poker dissension is created within the group,
leading to a split of allegiances between Ditch and The Professor (Joe
Chrest), a seemingly self-given moniker by another friend in the group. The
situation intensifies with more words cutting deeper rifts into the
disagreement leading to destructive threats and unforgivable revenge ploys.

While the film may linger in spots, taking too much
time reiterating a theme already told, it’s never boring, but in fact
remains consistently stimulating. The characters are well executed and the black and white aesthetic works charmingly within the New Orleans streets. Whether
about the trappings and misunderstandings found in masculinity, the emergence
of feminine strength, or the complexities of different relationships, “King of
Herrings” explores challenging subject matter and difficult characters with a
keen eye and a healthy dose of dark comedy.
Monte’s Rating
4.00 out of 5.00
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