Greetings again from the darkness. Writer-director Jethro Waters’ previous work includes a documentary, some short films, and music videos. He describes his first narrative feature film as a semi-autobiographical dark comedy … yet after watching, that description seems a bit oversimplified (not that I have come up a better label). Visuals are key to his presentation, while traditional story structure is not. It will mess with your mind a bit.
Braz Cubas stars as Stoner, a hunter returning to his North Carolina home after his mother has passed away. We immediately know something is off with Stoner thanks to the ever-present camo face paint. Is it PTSD or something else? He is preparing for a threat that may come or may not. We soon realize Stoner is in a slow spiral of mental illness headed to madness. The threats may be imagined or may be real, but either way, Stoner is likely not the best to deal.
Rather than attempt to explain all that occurs, I’ll provide some of the key elements that play a role: a pair of Confederate reenactors, a mummified cat, “Dear Stoner” letters from his deceased mother (with narration from the great Jessica Hecht), a fervent neighbor, a skilled killer, and Stoner’s hallucinations, visions, and internal voices. To top it off, he has the support of his old friend and now cable guy, Joel (Joel Loftin). There is also a religious element, though the film is never preachy.
The film unfolds a bit like a puzzle and demands a great deal of interpretation from the viewer. Some may embrace the challenge, while others may be put off by watching the psychological falling of a man searching for his purpose. Either way, beware the smell of burnt gunpowder.
Premiering In Theaters February 27, 2026
Movie Reviews from the Dark 