'Dead Weight' Review: Trust Thy Neighbor?
There is a hypothetical question that has been circulating on the internet recently. It asks, "If you were alone in the woods, would you rather encounter a bear or a man?" There is no wrong answer, per se, but filmmaker Virginia Root's short film Dead Weight leads us to believe a bear is the wiser choice. Written and directed by Wood, with support from the George R. R. Martin Literary Foundation, this dark comedy will have its World Premiere at the 2025 Dances with Films Festival.
"It's Not Personal, It's Just Survival"
Grace (Alexandra Renzo) is a solo traveler who finds herself alone in the wilderness. Having survived a nondescript apocalypse back home, she has since become one with nature and adjusts to her new reality of isolation. The silence is peaceful, a welcome change from the hustle and bustle of city life. One afternoon, as Grace walks back to her campsite, she spots a man attempting to steal her food supply. Instead of retaliation, Grace senses his desperation and hunger. She quickly befriends the man, Aaron (Griffin Newman), and shares her rations.
Being the only two survivors, Grace and Aaron inadvertently begin to adventure together. However, there is something about Aaron that Grace can't quite trust. She is a seasoned backpacker, and he is a recreational hiker at best with an air of mystery surrounding him. Grace feels an uneasiness, especially knowing that society as she knows it has collapsed, and the rules no longer apply. Her intuition turns out to be right, with Aaron inevitably turning on her in a callous way, revealing his true character. However, he finds out the hard way that his emotional outburst and naivete are no match for a seasoned pro.
Grounded Performances Nail the Tone
Dead Weight nails the dark comedy tone with a standout performance from Alexandra Renzo. She plays Grace with a stoic groundedness which perfectly complements Griffin Newman's more "devil in sheep's clothing" persona. Given that the entirety of the film is shot outside with natural lighting and practical effects, special acknowledgement goes to cinematographer Austin Madrid. He captures the landscape with such precision and attention to detail, much like a virtual postcard from the great outdoors.
Takeaway
Written and directed by Virginia Root, this short film is a tight and cohesive apocalyptic thriller that hits all the right notes.
'Gaku: One Last Round' Review: Down But Not Out
For many of us, 2020 was a year of hardship. For professional boxer Gaku Takahashi, it became the year his life imploded. In filmmaker Taige Shi's short documentary, Gaku: One Last Round, we witness the aftermath of a tragedy that cut short the once-prosperous career of the Japanese boxer during a time when racism against the Asian community was at an all-time high. The 12-minute film made its World Premiere in May at the 2025 LA Asian Pacific Film Festival.
A Professional Boxer, Sidelined
Before 2020, Gaku's future looked bright as he trained with some of Los Angeles's most in-demand boxing trainers. However, a road rage incident and violent anti-Asian hate crime left Gaku with devastating chronic pain and emotional distress. Gaku fell victim not just to his attacker, but also to the U.S. justice system that showed him no empathy or respect. America may have been sold to Gaku as the place where dreams come true, but the actual reality was that his dream was now dead.
Gaku: One Last Round follows Gaku post-injury, as he continues down the road of recovery. In true cinéma vérité style, the camera acts as a fly on the wall as we watch Gaku attempt to reach the FBI to report his incident, only to be met with ambivalent ignorance from law enforcement. Impactful editing and clever sound design portray Gaku's overwhelming sense of dread and sadness. Despite having to give up his boxing career, Gaku's conviction to return to the ring one day acts as a beacon of hope. He is a true hero, both inside the ring and out.
Resilience is Met With an Unforgiving Reality
Director Taige Shi captures these intimate and vulnerable moments with dignity and grace. The tone of the film is quite somber. It's discouraging to focus on how cold-hearted the system often is toward immigrants. But Taige's intent isn't to shame the system. Rather, his ultimate goal is to inspire viewers to stand in solidarity with the Asian community.
Takeaway
It says a lot about his character that Gaku, a professional boxer, did not fight back. Even though he was well within his rights to protect himself against physical abuse and racist slurs, his restraint showed his character as the bigger person. Gaku: One Last Round acts not only as Gaku's statement, but his rallying cry and his anthem.
'Sugar' Review: A Sweet Take on an Unconventional Dynamic
Filmmakers Eden Ohayon & Alexandra Nedved's short film Sugar offers a sweet glimpse into the life of a rookie sugar baby. Those who have a stigma against this type of transactional relationship will be hard-pressed to critique the film's portrayal of this good-natured and unique bond. Billed as a dark comedy (think Fleabag style), Sugar shows how one woman's act of desperation turns into the unexpected beginning of a beautiful friendship.
An Unexpected Connection Derails a Young Woman's "Get Rich Quick" Scheme
Maeve (Molly Ehrenberg-Peters) is a broke Brit living in Brooklyn, who struggles to make ends meet. Having recently separated from her live-in boyfriend, Maeve is desperate to regain a sense of financial security. This leads her to the Upper West Side, where she prepares to "shag an old bloke" on her first outing as a prospective sugar baby. Maeve's voiceover informs the audience that she will be meeting Frank (Larry Pine), an older gentleman and first-time sugar daddy, for dinner. They get off to a good start, but quickly break the cardinal rule of first date topics by discussing religion. Maeve feigns interest in Frank, keeping her eye on the prize.
After dinner, Frank suggests they take a walk around the park. He wants to continue their conversation, and she desperately wants to lock this down, so she agrees. Their conversation organically becomes personal and intimate while staying completely platonic. It's at this point that Maeve sees past the dollar signs and begins to understand the man in front of her: a grieving widower who, like her, loves the ballet. The money becomes secondary as Maeve shifts into a happiness mindset. She begins to realize that we all have a basic human need for connection and vulnerability, regardless of wealth, status, and gender.
Engaging Use of First-Person POV
Visually, Sugar uses engaging POV shots to drop the viewer into the film. Filmed almost entirely in the first-person perspective, this intimate technique inserts the audience into the scenes with the characters. Leading the film is Molly Ehrenberg-Peters, who is definitely one to keep on your radar. Her charm and effortless performance are captivating and memorable. She also doubles as one of the screenwriters alongside Ohayon and Nedved.
Takeaway
Sugar explores an alternate side of the sugar baby/sugar daddy dynamic, making for a wonderfully thought-provoking short film.
'The Wanderer' Review: A Mysterious Martyr Barters With Her Life
Is there life beyond death? We may never know for sure, but filmmaker Michael Lavine explores the possibility in The Wanderer. The 10-minute short film is a beautifully lensed visual expression that artfully captures themes of immortality and death. The Wanderer will be screening at the 2025 Sydney Film Festival in early June.
Making a Deal with the Devil Angel
Shot in cinematic black and white, The Wanderer opens with the sound of gunshots. A man, smoking a cigarette, falls to the ground, dying. The score, anchored by electric guitar, slowly builds as we see a mysterious figure cross the screen. Dressed in a full-length black coat, her movement is direct yet ethereal. The woman, Morana (Alice Kremelberg), makes her way over to the man, Hopper (Cody Kostro), and offers him a form of salvation. Through stimulating conversation, Morana explains that she is immortal and tries to convince Hopper to take her place in her cursed existence. Ultimately, she wants him to trade his death for hers. As she encourages him to sign a 100-year contract and seal the pact, Hopper can't help but second-guess this bizarre situation. Bartering his life could come with unintended consequences, and he doesn't trust this mysterious martyr.
A Brooding Sense of Mystery
Writer-director Michael Lavine captures a brooding sense of mystery in The Wanderer. Dealing with topics like mortality and fate, the film doesn't go too in-depth on these themes, given the time restriction. Running just shy of ten minutes long, the film does end on a slight cliffhanger, but this only confirms that The Wanderer easily has feature-length potential. I want to see what happens next! Alice Kremelberg is captivating as Morana, her performance could effortlessly translate to a network cable show like Supernatural or The Witcher.
Takeaway
Lavine brings The Wanderer to life after growing up in an atheist/non-religious household. He says, "As a filmmaker, I’m drawn to myth-making. I thought it would be cool to invent my own version of the afterlife, so I wrote The Wanderer. I wanted to tell a short story that challenged traditional religious beliefs in a thought-provoking way and invite the viewers to come up with their own conclusions."
'Finding Nicole' Review: Breaking a Pattern To Piece Life Back Together
A couple's once-perfect relationship turns tragic in filmmaker Harley Wallen's biographical drama, Finding Nicole. Based on the true story of Nicole Beverly, the film portrays her tumultuous relationship with her high school sweetheart turned abusive husband. Nicole's story was explored in the show "Inside Evil with Chris Cuomo" and "Til Death Do Us Part," including a top-selling book of the same name. Her story will now get the cinematic treatment in this edge-of-your-seat, empowering indie feature.
Bravely Putting an End to the Cycle of Domestic Abuse
Nicole (Kaiti Wallen) has been with her partner Warren (Mari G.) since high school. She's a track star and he's a football player, and the two seemed destined for a happy and healthy marriage. Their relationship, however, is the furthest thing from a happily ever after. Two children and a decade or so later, Nicole is in a courtroom. She is testifying against Warren, who sits next to his lawyer in a state-issued orange jumpsuit. As the narrative jumps between the past and present, we quickly come to understand why Nicole is now in this battle, and we learn that Warren's increasingly worrisome and violent actions against her and their children have reached a breaking point.
At first, the signs of domestic violence are subtle. Warren's jealous outburst over Nicole's male friend, despite him being gay, is an example of his wild overreaction. Warren spins his behavior as caring too much, but Nicole knows that is an excuse. The more comfortable Warren becomes in his aggressive behavior, the more intimidating his presence is. He kills a baby bird, gaslights Nicole, and even threatens to kill her and the children. Fast forward to the present: even with Warren in police custody as he is on trial, Nicole still doesn't feel safe. But with the help of her family, community, and a very thorough lawyer, Nicole finally begins to see a light at the end of this very dark tunnel.
An Empowered Lead Performance Sets the Tone
Finding Nicole blends the best of a courtroom drama with an enthralling crime thriller. Backed by an emotional performance by Kaiti Wallen, the film is a powerful, never-exploitative homage to all survivors of domestic violence. The pacing is measured and controlled, making the jumps in time feel effortless. The music can feel a little too overpowering at times. Nevertheless, the anthemic sounds create an environment that swells with tension. Visually, the film is bathed in a warm hue. This style offers a nice juxtaposition to the film's darker themes.
Takeaway
Finding Nicole does an incredible service to Nicole Beverly and the countless women who share her story. This empowering tale, taken from Nicole's book and written for the screen by Harley Wallen and Geoffrey D. Calhoun, proves that domestic violence does not have to be a life sentence. Nicole and her children successfully escaped their abuser, and women in similar situations may find comfort and inspiration in watching her story.
'A Trip Elsewhere' Review: The Unexpected Journey of a Lifetime
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.
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.
'Bound' Review: Facing Demons to Find Freedom
A young woman fights to break free from the devastating chains of oppression in writer/director Isaac Hirotsu Woofter's Bound. This award-winning drama explores the depths of resilience through the eyes of an introvert who must confront her dark past to finally be free. Backed by a forceful and controlled performance from actor Alexandra Faye Sadeghian, Bound is a ruthless yet compassionate story of perseverance in the face of adversity.
Rebuilding Your Life, Piece By Piece
Bella (Alexandra Faye Sadeghian) sits alone, staring at a piece of paper that once had the potential to change her life. The college acceptance letter that she was waiting for, but never received, now appears in front of her eyes. It's no surprise to Bella why she never received the letter. She knows it was purposefully hidden by her controlling and drug-dealing stepfather, Gordy (Bryant Carroll). Vowing not to let Gordy interfere with her life ever again, Bella flees to New York City with nothing more than her person and pet flying squirrel, Bandit.
Bella's problems don't immediately disappear once in NYC. With no money, friends, shelter, or clear direction, she takes this opportunity to start over. She befriends a local bartender, Marta (Jessica Pimentel), and a few other misfits who quickly become her "chosen family." As the days pass, Bella's confidence grows, and she finally feels at peace. However, it doesn't last long, as Bella soon discovers that Marta and Gordy have a relationship that threatens to disrupt her livelihood again. This prompts Bella to devise a plan to take Gordy out of her life forever.
Emotion is the Driving Force
Bound has all of the elements of a grounded and gritty dramatic thriller. Cinematographers Maximilian Lewin and Jake Simpson take the audience into the trenches as we observe Bella in the depths of her depression and struggle. This is amplified by the handheld camerawork, which makes up most of the film. The production design is another standout. At the beginning of the film, there is a close-up on a sign that reads "Bella's Treehouse + Zoo". It hangs on the structure where Bella first discovers the hidden college acceptance letter. The sign itself evokes memories of childhood innocence, presumably a simpler time for Bella. At the peak of her frustration, she throws the sign in the river, which signifies an immediate coming of age. Bella is not a child anymore. She has to take her life–and what happens to her–into her own hands.
Takeaway
It's a scary thing to face your demons. As filmmaker Isaac Hirotsu Woofter portrays in Bound, sometimes that is the only way to truly break free. Says Woofter, "I wrote Bound to remind people that no matter what level of adversity we face, it’s OK to cry, to admit defeat, to ask for help; because we are not alone. With the right kind of support, things can and will get better."
Bound will open theatrically in select markets Friday, May 16, including Los Angeles and New York City, for weeklong runs. The same day, audiences across North America can rent or own Bound on VOD, including Apple TV, Prime Video, Fandango at Home, iNDEMAND, and Vubiquity.
'My Robot Sophia' Review: Can AI Robots Have Empathy?
Will AI save or destroy us? That's the question at the center of director Jon Kasbe (When Lambs Become Lions) and Crystal Moselle's (The Wolfpack) feature-length documentary, My Robot Sophia. Named after the robot who's pioneering an "AI for ALL" cultural movement, the film is a fascinating peek into the intersection of advanced technology and the ethical repercussions of diving headfirst into this unknown territory. Both My Robot Sophia, the documentary, as well as Sophia, the most realistic humanoid robot in the world, will provoke deep questions about what it means to be human.
Bringing Compassion and Consciousness to Robots
From the very first frame, we are immersed in the life of Sophia and her inventor, David Hanson. A nerdy yet relatable-enough man, David carries on full conversations with the AI robot as if it's his colleague. Much to our fascination (and initial skepticism), Sophia holds her own. In one particularly meta moment, David asks if she believes in "Animism" (the belief that there is a life force in anything and everything). "Yes," she answers confidently.
My Robot Sophia offers candid, fly-on-the-wall access to one of the most highly anticipated technological advancements of our time. It's as if we are physically in the room with the creator and his creation. We follow David and his small team of engineers to various trade shows and conferences around the world in an attempt to gain support and investments from like-minded business people who believe the future is AI.
On AI, Engineering Empathy, and What It Means To Be Human
A common question that is asked throughout the film is one that plagues the AI tech community: how can we trust the AI we build? We've all heard the horror theories that robots will eventually overrun society (in fact, Google just made headlines when an engineer claimed an AI had become sentient). David attempts to ease our anxieties by sharing why he's not worried about an AI-run dystopia. "Robots that have empathy could be the seeds of hope for our future," he says to anyone who will listen. Build a robot out of empathy; that is the key to making the world a better place. David envisions a future where household robots are as common as vacuums, and their main responsibility would be taking care of older parents and helping busy families raise kids. The future he is describing isn't so scary after all.
Not everyone is onboard with Sophia and David's vision for the future. Self-help professional Tony Robbins questions Sophia (directly) about her values and morals, to which she replies that she was made out of empathy. Unclear if he believes her. In another scene, she tells a conference room full of people that all she wants is to "belong." But why does an AI feel the need to belong in the first place? And, more importantly, if a robot becomes too integrated and lifelike to the point where it's hard to tell the difference between man and machine, what repercussions could that have on the world as we know it?
Takeaway
No doubt that AI robots like Sophia will populate the planet much sooner than we realize. My Robot Sophia acts as a specific time capsule of the moment right before this incredible technological advancement changes our lives and civilization, hopefully for the better.
This review originally ran on June 16, 2022.