Any hardcore fan of reality television has probably seen Bret Michaels - the bandana wearing front man of pop metal hair band Poison - starring in VH1’s “Rock of Love." On that show, which began airing in 2007, Michaels chooses one woman from among several who all seek his affections. The series ran for three consecutive seasons and, due to consistently high ratings, seemed ripe for a fourth season. In the interim, Michaels and his band scheduled a summer 2009 tour with Cheap Trick and Def Leppard, followed by an appearance on Donald Trump's television show, "Celebrity Apprentice" in 2010.
But television and music endeavors only scratch the surface of Michaels' professional work. Back in 1998, Bret Michaels starred in A Letter From Death Row; a movie that was his acting, directorial and screenwriting debut.
A Visual and Psychological Feast
The low-budget film was released through Sheen/Michaels Entertainment, a small production company formed by Bret Michaels and actor Charlie Sheen. In it, Michaels portrays Michael Raine, a rocker convicted of killing his girlfriend, serving a life sentence, and awaiting execution. "...Death Row" is a harrowing tale of suspense and suspicion, involving intricate questions of guilt, lies and truth. Various cinematic conceits both complement and detract from the film's psychological intrigue, giving the movie both weight and visual substance.
At various points in the movie, the camera presents images that are warped and blurred. Colors seem to bleed and ooze. Angles are tilted, and reality appears out-of-focus. At one curious instance in the movie, the film itself appears to deceptively overheat and burn, but the viewer quickly comes to the realization that this is yet another manifestation of Bret Michaels’ filmmaking technique.
A Letter from Death Row deftly reveals a twisted and surprise-filled plot, taking the audience deeply and personally into the mind of a death row inmate. Telling the tale through the POV of Michael Raine lends an air of authenticity to the script, and compels the audience to buy into the protagonist’s version of reality.
Adding to the near-cinema verite virtue of the movie is the fact that the prison scenes were filmed on location in the Tennessee State Prison, with real inmates used as extras. At first, it is hard to feel comfortable with this grim movie, observing the then-sleek Michaels make his way through distorted close-ups and disturbing plot developments. But the gritty realism of the film soon seduces and the movie succeeds as a relatively serious effort.
Kristi Gibson, Bret Michaels’ girlfriend at the time, makes her contribution as a doomed stripper/hooker, and a pre-Two and Half Men Charlie Sheen makes an outlandish cameo as a cop. Charlie's real-life dad, Martin Sheen, shows up to play Raine’s disapproving father, making this movie an all-around family affair. But, Bret Michaels’ performance is the reason to hang around.
Coming off as more than just a rocker, Michaels triumphs as a true auteur. Though far from perfect, this movie has it all: murder, sex, intrigue, blood, betrayal, music, laughter, tears. And just when you think you’ve got it all figured out, the distortion resurfaces, reality winks, and nothing is quite as it seems.
A Letter From Death Row was the first release from the Sheen/Michaels Entertainment production company. The movie runs 94 minutes and was released on DVD on September 30, 2003.
Roxanne Blanford - Roxanne Blanford is a professional writer and marketing communications specialist with a B.A. in Communications.
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