Dances With Films LA – closing night film
Greetings again from the darkness. We discover a certain guilty pleasure in following a lost soul millennial as he searches for meaning, connection, or some reason to exist. The film from writer-director Adam Jumba and co-writer Christian Flowers is one of the closing night films for this year’s Dances With Films LA festival, and it’s likely to generate plenty of thought and consideration for viewers.
Jack Alcott never really clicked in “Dexter: New Blood”, but this role as chain-smoking Tyler fits him like a glove. He seems frustrated by everything and nothing, all at the same time. Is he a slacker or a dreamer? Initially, we can’t tell; however, it doesn’t take long to get a better feel for him and what he’s thinking. He’s bored with his job at the marina, yet he’s not ambitious enough to prove himself or pursue something better. Two young new hires make him realize time is passing quickly. He stops by a boarded-up ice cream shop where a flashback shows he once hung out with friends, and even had a silent crush on Alice (Rose Reid).
These last two events convince Tyler to head back home to rural Pennsylvania. His perceptive sister Erica (Izabela Vidovic) is happy to see him, while his dad (Michael Gaston) offers no warmth, while holding strong to his demands for full payment on Tyler’s beloved 1989 Mustang that holds most of his fond memories. A younger brother is the true definition of a do-nothing teenager … the kind whose video games can’t even be interrupted for greeting a returning older brother.
Tyler “steals’ the car under the cloak of darkness, and it sets him off on a personal journey with no specific destination in mind. Without admission (or even acknowledgment) Tyler is in the midst of self-discovery, and with that comes some emotional pain. Director Jumba utilizes a scrambled timeline to help us better understand Tyler and the path he took to get to this point. Tyler tries to re-live past fun with a friend, but finds out ‘Ring and Stare’ (a form of ding dong ditch) doesn’t translate well to adulthood. And a reunion with Alice merely clears the air without being life-changing. We are a bit relieved (and hopeful) when Tyler gives a lift to some tourists looking for the beach. All of this comes after a really cool opening where Tyler absorbs nighttime radio … a DJ who is both soothing and insightful. Wearing loneliness on one’s sleeve guarantees neither a life of misery, nor an ability to dig out of one.
Movie Reviews from the Dark 