Capitalism doesn’t care about your dead dad. That’s the very candid takeaway from Jared Sprouse’s dark comedy, Party USA. Serving as writer, director, producer, and co-editor, Jared crafts a brutally honest portrayal of survival of the minimum-wage worker. A clever script and strong performances bring this indie to life in spectacular fashion.

Taking the Dead End Job Literally

Set in a small Southern town, twenty-something Taylor Prout (Ainsley Seiger) lives a fairly quiet life. That is, until she receives a surprising phone call informing her that her dad is dead. The news shocks Taylor to her core. However, reality strikes when Irene (Tracy Tolliver), her boss at Party USA, denies her request for time off. The other employees can’t cover her shift for various reasons, leaving Taylor stuck working a dead-end service job while her father is, literally, dead.

While Taylor should be making funeral arrangements, she is instead stocking shelves with cheap candy and consumer-grade fireworks. How tragic that a daughter working in customer service is not allowed the time to grieve her father! Her justified anger manifests in physical action against Irene, leading to a fatal decision that can potentially cost Taylor her life, too. Adding to Taylor’s stress are her anxious boyfriend Damian (Phillip Andre Botello), her unruly brother (Ben Weinswig), and Irene’s daughter, Zhara (Sharahya Carter), whose unexpected appearance forces Taylor to push her grief and guilt aside in order to save herself.

A Modern-Day Clerks Meets Fargo

Tonally, Party USA successfully walks the fine line between dark comedy and homegrown horror. Picture Clerks meets Fargo with a sprinkle of Parasite. Commanding the screen is Ainsley Seiger, who gives not only a phenomenal performance but a memorable one, too. She has a face for the big screen and carries the film effortlessly. Another standout element is the cinematography by Simms Wright. In particular, the extreme close-up of Taylor’s eyeball during a fireworks symphony is stunning.

Director’s Statement

“Having spent many years working in hospitality, I wanted to draw on that experience for Party USA. I know the particular exhaustion that comes from smiling while everything inside you is falling apart. You learn to perform politeness, to suppress anger, and to keep moving even when grief or frustration threaten to overwhelm you. These small businesses scattered across the region are filled with unique kinds of stories and vibrant characters. So to me, there was no more distinctly American setting than a rinky-dink party and fireworks store, selling patriotism to the masses.

There is something profoundly and disturbingly American about a young woman being pushed to the brink because she cannot get her shift covered after her father dies. It’s a job she cannot afford to leave, but can no longer bear to keep. It’s an exploration of how unfettered capitalism can corrupt those amongst us who are just trying to help those they love most. Party USA is my attempt to explore that contradiction with honesty, humor, and above all, a thrilling lens.” – Jared Sprouse

Takeaway

Making its world premiere at Cinquest, Party USA is a delightfully chaotic joyride and all-around success for Jared Sprouse’s directorial debut. Stay through the credits too. It’s refreshing to see bloopers during the end scroll.