Alloy Entertainment is no stranger to the novel-turned-television-show, having put out Gossip Girl, The Vampire Diaries, and Pretty Little Liars, all shows based on The New York Times bestselling series that are also published by Alloy. Private is simply the next in a long line of shows based on books, with one major difference: it’s a web series. While the DVD box calls Private a “movie about romance, privilege and murder,” it began as 20 webisodes, each about 4 to 6 minutes in length. However, the part about romance, privilege and murder is spot on. Reed Brennan (played by Kelsey Sander) leaves her small town life behind as she begins her first semester at Easton Academy, a prestigious boarding school in New England. She’s placed in Billings Hall, the best dorm on campus, and manages to snag herself a hot new boyfriend, Thomas (Brant Daugherty).
While Thomas is a hottie from a wealthy family, he’s not one of the popular crowd that Billings girls are supposed to associate with. Reed ditches him to attend a party, but Thomas crashes it, drunk and perhaps even on drugs (although he seems exactly the same as he always does). He demands that Reed must choose between him and her new friends, and she asks him to leave. He does, but warns her that it’s over. And it is. Thomas has been murdered and Reed must figure out who she can trust and what other secrets Easton holds before she is the next one to die.
As this film is based on the first four books in the Private series, it’s expected that the pacing will be fairly quick. However, it does get a tad confusing as to how much time has passed. Thomas tells Reed she’s going to date him, and about three minutes later they are making-out and he’s her boyfriend. Of course, it may have been easier to fit everything into the plot if there hadn’t been so many Neutrogena references. How many scenes do you need of girls washing their faces telling their friends to use Neutrogena’s products to get the Billings girl look? The pacing does aid in adding some dramatic tension, though, which makes the movie more suspenseful.
What is really surprising here is the acting. The cast is made up of relatively unknown actors and actresses. Kelsey Sanders is, as far as I can tell, perhaps best known at the time for her guest appearance on Wizards of Waverly Place, while Blake is played by Evan Taubenfeld, who used to play in Avril Lavigne’s band. That said, the cast is exceptionally well chosen, especially Tristin Mays in the role of Taylor and Natalie Floyd as Ariana. All of the characters had real depth, which is hard to pull off in such a short amount of time. If you are a fan of Gossip Girl, this series will probably appeal to you. Sure, there are times when the plot is lacking, but it will keep you on the edge of your seat and the wardrobes are to die for.
DVD Bonus Features
This DVD has one of the best bonus features we've ever seen. While Private: The Casting Call sounds like it would be a bunch of screen tests and whatnot, it’s actually much more exciting than that. Instead, the producers and screenwriters set up a bunch of competitions for three lucky fans to compete in, with the final prize being the role of Kiran, one of the Billings’ girls. If you watch this after you’ve seen the film, you will already know the outcome, but it’s still fun. There are also interviews with the cast and the screenwriters, as well as a sneak peek at The Book of Spells, a Private prequel.
"Private" is on sale August 24, 2010 and is not rated. Drama, Thriller. Directed by Dennie Gordon. Written by Veronica Becker, Sarah Kucserka. Starring Brant Daugherty, Chord Overstreet, Evan Taubenfeld, Kelsey Sanders, Natalie Floyd, Samantha Cope, Sanna Haynes, Tristin Mays.
