Filmmaker J.R. Sawyers captures drug-induced anxiety through a kaleidoscopic lens in the dramedy A Trip Elsewhere. Set against the Covid-19 backdrop, four friends circumvent the stay-at-home orders by journeying to the outer limits of reality. Winner of Best Comedy at the Creation International Film Festival, A Trip Elsewhere is a riotous and redemptive hero’s journey that emphasizes the impact of camaraderie and friendship.

To Escape Reality, Four Strangers Embark on a Journey of a Lifetime

It’s April of 2020 in Los Angeles, the beginning of the pandemic, when the lives of four strangers are forever changed. Desperate for a break in the monotony, single mother Sorina (Andrea Geones) and her friend Amy (Maura Mannle) get the adventurous idea to take a little LSD. If they can’t physically travel, what’s stopping them from taking an acid trip? On her way to Amy’s house, Sorina runs into her old friend/former flame Lenny (Hayes Dunlap), a struggling actor who has taken up food delivery to make ends meet during these “unprecedented times”. Their chance encounter catches the attention of Amy and her neighbor, Dale (J.R. Sawyers), and with spirits high all around, Sorina invites Lenny and Dale to partake in the LSD adventure.

Watch the A Trip Elsewhere trailer here.

The group is eager to get a little high and forget about the pandemic blues for a while. Instead, they accidentally end up ingesting a record-breaking dose of LSD, which quickly turns their chill acid trip into a psychedelic nightmare. While tripping, all four find themselves forced to face fears and confront unresolved issues. The only way out of these hallucinations is to seemingly find solace in personal redemption before they can return to the real world.

Striking the Right Balance of Entertaining and Poignant

A Trip Elsewhere, co-written by J.R. Sawyers and Jay Gutierrez, is an absurdist and fantastical independent film that feels much larger than its production budget. Music drives a lot of the film; at times, it’s a little too overpowering, but the result is an eclectic mixtape of high-octane bangers. Another standout element is the special effects, which Sawyer relies on heavily during the various acid trip scenes. The ensemble cast strikes the right balance between comedy and drama, giving the story the necessary emotional depth required to feel poignant and purposeful.

Takeaway

Lighthearted on the surface but with a deeper meaning at its core, A Trip Elsewhere is a wonderful achievement for J.R. Sawyers & Company. The film explores universal themes of death, loneliness, and depression in a way that encourages audiences to get introspective. A Trip Elsewhere challenges us, moves us, and, most of all, entertains us.