Author: Take2IndieReview: Mark Lakatos
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ONE MINUTE OF UNCONSCIOUSNESS
The American Dream is, as most people will acknowledge, a hollow truth debunked long ago. It seems we are in constant supply of films such as these, the kinds that demystify the largely forgotten hustle of those seeking a better life in the United States. The Brutalist, this year’s awards season darling, is the quintessential…
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SHUCKS
Just what drives a man to uncover his darkest self? This age-old question carries a chilling implication, suggesting that we could unknowingly be the architects of our own downfall. Writer/director Ty Brueilly’s debut silent feature film, embarks on a wildly experimental journey through the world of the macabre and emerges with some rather offbeat ideas.…
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BAD MORNING
The many haphazard ideas that course through our brains during sunrise are exactly what fascinates filmmaker Zhen Long, whose 2024 short on the matter was selected for the Silicon Beach Film Festival. Call it a continuation of her experimental super short film Hair & I, or a semi-abstract dissection of someone’s inner thoughts to start…
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THE MIX
The number of podcasts and podcaster personalities has seen a massive boom in the past few years. It seems like a new one crops up every other day with something new to say under the guise of free speech. But it’s exactly this constitutional right that grants many folks a platform to push their agenda,…
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BLACKOUT
Immersion can make or break a short, especially where timing is concerned. That’s the whole entire point of the genre, leaving a lasting impact with limited time. It’s always a treat to see indie filmmakers take a concept and run with it, especially when they are very clearly leaving no stone unturned to maximize their…
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BEST DAY EVER
Rule number one of hitman movies: if the job can go wrong, it will. Murphy’s law, in a cinematic context. And what we get in director Preston Taylor’s proof-of-concept short Best Day Ever is one very specific instance of that. Though it lacks the bone-breaking, violent thrills its action genre label promises, rest assured that…
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OUTRAGE
Historically speaking, films that use their narrative to push a political agenda never walk away unscathed from public ire. Regardless of subject matter, an “objective” lens can and will always prevail. Much like Alex Garland did in his recent A24 outing, Civil War. Writer/director Brady Nelson’s Outrage doesn’t pick sides and certainly doesn’t ask the…
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THIS IS LOVE?!
Many people often underestimate the challenges and sacrifices that come with a long-term relationship. Things can seem rosy at first, perfect the next, but they rarely stand the test of time. It’s a familiar cycle for many, and for one particular couple in director Haley Rice’s This Is Love?!, a dealbreaker has come like a…
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SHADOW
A troubling portrait of parenthood finds young mother Ahtna (Katy Wright-Mead) and her daughter Elsie (Valentina Gordon) overtaken by a malevolent force that hunts the poor girl throughout the night. Shadow keeps things simple; Ahtna’s shadow gradually takes on a mind of its own and begins pursuing her own daughter. It starts innocently enough, with…