{{Short description|American drama film by Michelle Danner}} {{Use mdy dates|date=June 2013}} {{Infobox film | name = Hello Herman | image = Hello_Herman_Movie_Poster.jpg | alt = | caption = Theatrical release poster | director = Michelle Danner | writer = John Buffalo Mailer | starring = {{Plainlist| * Norman Reedus * Martha Higareda }} | producer = {{Plainlist| * Ed Cha * Michelle Danner * Brian Drillinger * Alexandra Guarnieri }} | music = Jeff Beal | cinematography = Sandra Valde-Hansen | editing = Christian Kinnard | studio = All in Films | distributor = Gravitas Ventures<br />Freestyle Releasing<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://freestylereleasing.com/hello-herman/ |title=Hello Herman | Freestyle Releasing |access-date=February 19, 2015 |archive-date=February 19, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150219102744/http://freestylereleasing.com/hello-herman/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> | released = {{Film date|2012|10|20|Hollywood Film Festival|2013|06|07|United States}} | runtime = 85 minutes | country = United States | language = English | budget = $2 million | gross = $8,437<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=helloherman.htm|title = Hello Herman}}</ref> }}
'''''Hello, Herman''''' is a 2012 American drama film directed by Michelle Danner, written by John Buffalo Mailer, and starring Norman Reedus, Garrett Backstrom, Rob Estes and Martha Higareda. It premiered at the 16th Annual Hollywood Film Festival on October 20, 2012.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/movies/la-xpm-2012-oct-18-la-et-mn-hollywood-film-festival-arrives-story.html|title=Hollywood Film Festival arrives at ArcLight|author=King, Susan|work=Los Angeles Times|date=October 18, 2012|access-date=June 8, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.indiewire.com/article/watch-walking-dead-star-norman-reedus-in-trailer-for-hello-herman|title=Watch: Meet "America's Worst Nightmare" in Trailer for School Shooting Drama, 'Hello Herman' (VIDEO)|last=Pomorski|first=Chris|work=IndieWire|date=October 17, 2012|access-date=June 8, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movie/hello-herman/review/564116|title=Hello Herman: Film Review|last=Scheck|first=Frank|work=The Hollywood Reporter|date=June 6, 2013|access-date=June 8, 2013}}</ref>
==Plot== {{Expand section|date=November 2025}} Set in the not-so-distant-future, in the United States, sixteen-year-old Herman Howards makes a fateful decision. He enters his suburban school and kills thirty-nine students, two teachers, and a police officer. Just before his arrest he emails his idol, famous journalist Lax Morales, sending him clips of the shootings captured with Herman's own digital camera. In the clips Herman tells Lax, "I want to tell my story on your show". Lax, haunted by his own past, is now face to face with Herman. Herman is executed in the electric chair. The movie explores why and how a massacre like this can happen in our society, desensitizing in America, youth violence and bullying, the impact the media has on our individual quest for fame, and ultimately our need for connection.
==Reception== {{Rotten Tomatoes prose|20|5.1|10|ref=yes|access-date={{RT data|access date}}}} Metacritic has given the film a weighted average score of 27/100, based on 5 reviews, indicating "generally unfavorable" reviews.<ref name="mc">{{cite web |title=Hello Herman Reviews - Metacritic |url=https://www.metacritic.com/movie/hello-herman |publisher=Metacritic |access-date=July 7, 2013}}</ref>
Sam Adams of ''Time Out New York'' said that the most fitting punishment for ''Hello Herman'' was to simply ignore its existence: "it barely tries to offer insight into its much-debated subject, content to rip the scab off an ever-fresh wound for the sake of controversy."<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.timeout.com/us/film/hello-herman-movie-review |title=Hello Herman movie review |first=Sam |last=Adams |newspaper=Time Out New York |date=June 3, 2013 |access-date=July 7, 2013 |archive-date=February 22, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140222214611/http://www.timeout.com/us/film/hello-herman-movie-review |url-status=dead }}</ref> ''The Los Angeles Times''{{-'}}s Amy Nicholson wrote about the incompetence of the director: "we're not sure what director Michelle Danner, who plays Herman's defensive mother in an uncredited role, wants us to get besides a reminder that angry boys act out for a host of half-defined reasons."<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/movies/moviesnow/la-et-mn-hello-herman-review-20130606,0,512587.story? |title='Hello Herman' misses target |first=Amy |last=Nicholson |newspaper=The Los Angeles Times |date=June 6, 2013 |access-date=July 7, 2013}}</ref> ''The Village Voice''{{-'}}s Rob Staeger stated that "the dialogue is all surface: emotions are laid out on the autopsy table for the audience to dissect and analyze, but rarely feel."<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.villagevoice.com/2013-06-05/film/flat-hello-herman-is-a-satire-long-past-its-expiration-date/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130620035830/http://www.villagevoice.com/2013-06-05/film/flat-hello-herman-is-a-satire-long-past-its-expiration-date/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=June 20, 2013 |title=Flat Hello Herman is a satire long past its expiration date |first=Rob |last=Staeger |newspaper=The Village Voice |date=June 7, 2013 |access-date=July 7, 2013}}</ref> ''The New York Times''{{-'}}s Jeannette Catsoulis finds that "pointing at everything and elucidating nothing, Hello Herman arrives freighted with the anti-bullying agenda of its director, Michelle Danner."<ref>{{cite news |first=Jeannette |last=Catsoulis |url=https://movies.nytimes.com/2013/06/07/movies/hello-herman-directed-by-michelle-danner.html?_r=0 |title=So many culprits in a teenage rampage |newspaper=The New York Times |date=June 6, 2013 |access-date=July 7, 2013}}</ref> In contrast to other critics, Sam Kashner of Vanity Fair said that “''Hello Herman'' is a powerful and important work, a darkly brilliant tone poem about America’s tango with violence and fame. Herman will get under your skin. He may even follow you home. What is certain is you won’t soon forget him.”{{citation needed|date=October 2014}}
The Examiner's Courtney Hartmann said that "Michelle Danner's ''Hello Herman'' takes a look at the troubled youth of America... the film will definitely spark up conversations that have never really died since Columbine. The issues of teens in America especially when it comes to bullying and retaliation are a problem that need to be addressed far beyond a film." Danny Miller of MSN Movies called ''Hello Herman'' "A powerful film that should be required viewing for adolescents everywhere."
Director Michelle Danner issued a statement through the ''Hello Herman'' website addressing those that did not quite understand her intentions. "''Hello Herman'' is being released today and it is sparking a lot of controversy. Some would love for me to not have made this movie. They want you to ignore the problem of violence in America. Many understand why I made this movie. They called it 'Daring... Unnerving, thought provoking...The type of movie that Hollywood rarely makes but should make more often.' I am purposely making a point to touch on many issues. It's about being very focused on the fact that there isn’t just one issue contributing to the escalating violence in teens, there are a multitude of them. Our world is not safe. I am a mother and feel a responsibility. This breakout violence is not going away. It’s spiraling out of control. There are so many factors that come together for these events to occur. I wanted to start the conversation and not let it die. When a shooting happens the media pounds on us and then they're on to the next thing. No one does anything and it happens again and again. That's why I made the film. Nothing changes. We need to keep seeing movies that deal with these issues. No, it’s not a popcorn film. We can't drop the ball on this one. This is the world we are leaving to our children and this world is getting more and more dangerous. We have to do something about it."<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.hellohermanthemovie.com/ |title=Hello Herman the Movie – Anti Bullying Film |access-date=April 4, 2013 |archive-date=April 10, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130410190139/http://www.hellohermanthemovie.com/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>
==Box office== As of July 7, 2013, ''Hello Herman'' has earned $8,437 in North America with an estimated budget of $1,500,000.<ref name="mojo">{{cite web |url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?page=main&id=helloherman.htm|title=Hello Herman |publisher=Box Office Mojo |access-date=July 7, 2013}}</ref><ref name="imdb box office">{{cite web |url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1876330/business?ref_=tt_dt_bus|title=Hello Herman Box Office/Business |publisher=IMDb |access-date=July 7, 2013}}</ref> The film earned $5,985 on its opening weekend.<ref name="imdb box office" />
==Reviews== ArkansasOnline<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2013/jun/07/hello-herman-20130607/?f=latest|title=Review: Hello Herman|author=Martin, Philip|publisher=ArkansasOnline.com|date=June 7, 2013|access-date=June 9, 2013}}</ref>
Current Movie Reviews<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.current-movie-reviews.com/42807/special-screening-hello-herman-review-poignant-portrait-of-the-abysmal-descent-of-youth/|title=Special Screen "Hello Herman" Review|author=Edenshaw Tammie|publisher=current-movie-reviews.com|date=July 28, 2013|access-date=July 30, 2013}}</ref>
DigitalJournal<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.digitaljournal.com/article/351340|title=Video: Anti-bully movie 'Hello Herman' full-length trailer|author=Tran, Can|publisher=DigitalJournal.com|date=June 1, 2013|access-date=June 9, 2013}}</ref>
L.A. Times<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/movies/moviesnow/la-et-mn-hello-herman-review-20130606,0,512587.story|title=Movie review: 'Hello Herman' misses target|author=Nicholson, Amy|work=Los Angeles Times|date=June 6, 2013|access-date=June 8, 2013}}</ref>
Nerd Reactor<ref>{{cite web|url=http://nerdreactor.com/2013/07/02/hello-herman-movie-review/|title=Hello Herman movie review starring Norman Reedus|author=Galvin, Robert|publisher=NerdReactor.com|date=July 2, 2013|access-date=July 3, 2013|archive-date=August 18, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220818022120/https://nerdreactor.com/2013/07/02/hello-herman-movie-review/|url-status=dead}}</ref>
New York Times<ref>{{cite web|url=https://movies.nytimes.com/2013/06/07/movies/hello-herman-directed-by-michelle-danner.html?partner=rss&emc=rss&smid=tw-nytmovies&_r=0|title=So Many Culprits in a Teenage Rampage|author=Catsoulis, Jeanette|work=New York Times.com|date=June 7, 2013|access-date=June 8, 2013}}</ref>
ReelTalk<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.reeltalkreviews.com/browse/viewitem.asp?type=review&id=5158|title=High School Tragedy|author=Tucker, Betty Jo|publisher=ReelTalkReviews.com|year=2013|access-date=June 8, 2013}}</ref>
Shreveport Times<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.shreveporttimes.com/article/20130605/ENT21/306050030/Shreveport-native-screen-film-Robinson-Film-Center|title=Shreveport native to screen film at Robinson Film Center|author=White, Devin|publisher=ShreveportTimes.com|date=June 5, 2013|access-date=June 9, 2013}}</ref>
SlantMagazine<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.slantmagazine.com/film/review/hello-herman|title=Review: Hello Herman|author=Schenker, Andrew|publisher=SlantMagazine.com|date=June 2, 2013|access-date=June 8, 2013}}</ref>
TimeOut<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.timeout.com/us/film/hello-herman-movie-review|title=Hello Herman: movie review|author=Adams, Sam|publisher=TimeOut.com|date=n.d.|access-date=June 8, 2013|archive-date=February 22, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140222214611/http://www.timeout.com/us/film/hello-herman-movie-review|url-status=dead}}</ref>
VillageVoice<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.villagevoice.com/2013-06-05/film/flat-hello-herman-is-a-satire-long-past-its-expiration-date/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130620035830/http://www.villagevoice.com/2013-06-05/film/flat-hello-herman-is-a-satire-long-past-its-expiration-date/|url-status=dead|archive-date=June 20, 2013|title=Flat Hello Herman Is A Satire Long Past Its Expiration Date|author=Staeger, Rob|publisher=VillageVoice.com|date=June 7, 2013|access-date=June 8, 2013}}</ref>
==Interviews== BestMoviesEverNews<ref>{{cite web|url=http://bestmoviesevernews.com/director-michelle-danner-talks-walking-deads-norman-reedus-hello-herman-bullying/|title=Director Michelle Danner Talks 'Walking Dead's' Norman Reedus, 'Hello Herman' & Bullying|author=Johnson, Curt|publisher=BestMoviesEverNews.com|date=May 31, 2013|access-date=June 9, 2013}}</ref>
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== * {{Official website|http://www.hellohermanthemovie.com/}} * {{IMDb title|1876330|Hello Herman}} * {{rotten-tomatoes|hello_herman_2012}} * {{Mojo title|helloherman}}
{{School shootings in the United States}}
Category:2012 films Category:2012 drama films Category:2012 independent films Category:2012 American films Category:2012 English-language films Category:American drama films Category:American independent films Category:Films about capital punishment Category:Films about school violence Category:Films about mass shootings Category:Films scored by Jeff Beal Category:Films set in the future Category:Films set in the United States Category:English-language independent films Category:English-language drama films