Indie Film Review “Straight Through Crew” Reunions, raves, personal reflections, the past, and uncertain futures reign amidst hedonistic chaos
WATCH THE TRAILER BELOW:
First, the Recap:
Decadent tendencies. If we find our lives swallowed up by the prosaic routines we’ve more than often allowed ourselves to fall into, it becomes difficult to turn down anything that promises “a good time”. Delving headfirst into the realms of just how far gone from what we don’t truly appreciate we can manage to attain, the road we discover may just be what we need….or at least that’s what we choose to believe. What might happen when that supposed absconding from boredom leads to more potential harm than good? And can we then realize our need for true release?
It is Christmas Eve in the small town of Ludgershall, Hampshire, and a group of friends–Aden (Charles Craddock), Jamie (Jessica Pearce), Deanna (Conchita Mbuyambo), Richie (Jason Rosato), and Lisane (Laura Hall)–want to make it a day, and night, to remember. All coming from the varied stages that their lives have gone in since last seeing each other, the events which unfold will test friendships, feelings, growing doubts, and the grander direction existence has taken them, with the extremes they experience threatening to tear them apart….or definitively wake them up.
Next, my Mind:
Echoes and more evident reminders of what has passed, the tumultuous return to what is present, and all the candid volatility that arrives with choices being made in moments of absolute haziness  and absence of mind all forms the shaky cornerstone holding up a modern tale of dashed dreams, rekindled and broken romances, the weight of addictions, and other excesses we should pause and reassess for our betterment as conveyed through this rawly transparent, unapologetic 80-minute indie feature film from writer/director/producer David Campion and producer Chloe Van Harding. It’s a portrait of contemporary youth as seen through not just their eyes and experiences, but also through the lens of pronounced uncertainties, desperation for meaning, and quality relationships that will survive it all. It’s an ode, an anthem even, to today’s young adults who find themselves desiring more, yet by choice or lack of true motive, find themselves stuck in a cycle of perceived or actual discontent.
In the context explored here, the narrative sees a group of friends coming back together on a Christmas Eve day and night that will cause all of them to literally laugh, cry, rage, recognize, reconcile, AND be forced to face their own and each other’s demons in a manner that will end up defining who they are in the now while still contemplating what the road ahead will look like. I would initially wish to state it’s one of those “slice of life” films, but I feel it goes beyond that in how it so bluntly addresses the state of being found in circumstances as depicted here and the means by which we ALL as human beings tend to fall into ruts of self-deprecating, self-destructive behavior that then maintains its hold and prevents us from possibly considering things COULD actually BE better for us. The magnitude in which we then SHARE this agony with those whom we value as friends in the journey can likewise have both awakening and damaging impact on us, even as they too could be struggling with similar issues of figuring out WHO they really are as well.
The entire concept of “the grass is always greener”, the twists and turns actuality throws at us, mistakes and subsequent regrets we bury and let fester, the flood of recollecting these things that lead to relational break-ups, assumptive thinking, arguments, and feelings, having a sense of envy for those who we believe were better off than us, the blame assigned to others out of our own frustrations and inner unsettledness, the shallowness of dependency-based relationships in multiple forms, being fearful of that which we cannot tangibly see or understand paired with the same trepidation of missing out on things, and the path to inward healing, absolution, and redemption that could still save us are all thematic tangents we view throughout this film’s runtime. What I appreciated IS that the well-executed direction and solid writing presented here allows for these individual elements to come across in a grounded, natural way that befits the characters rather than having any impression of melodramatic intent or delivery. It is LIFE, but in unreserved perspective that is purposeful and intelligent, offering moments of drama, then humor, then drama.
Ultimately, the film’s finale serves the events we’ve seen well in its seemingly straightforward, equally unvarnished atmosphere, will the literal final line we hear SO apropos given all that’s transpired to that instance. Again, comedic yet compelling. Additionally, the film becomes a great example of an ensemble cast that has just the right kind of chemistry to make what we view more believable. First up is Craddock playing Aden, a definitive illustration of a man in turmoil, relying on nothing but partying to his heart’s content (but not remotely to his benefit) and discovering the next fix to assuage the lack of success life has given. Yet, even as the assembling of old and current friends causes him to be even more unhinged, old and new wounds arising, the extremes it will drive him to could truly spell an end to ANY degree of hope or balance in his existence he might grasp unless others can cause him to really see what he’s doing to himself. Craddock is all fiery energy and impassioned drive throughout his performance, whether in subdued or explosive moments, providing the realism needed to both empathize, and NOT, with Aden in any given moment.
Pearce exudes a more conspicuously kind-hearted, well-adjusted, but then suddenly upended air through her role as Jamie, a woman returning to her hometown after a long time away while pursuing what we believe is success in the big city. However, in coming back home for the holiday and becoming exposed again to all the facets of it, good and bad, could it be revealed that all is not as envy-inducing in her life as it would appear. As she navigates her own vexations while interacting with the group, it becomes apparent she might not wish to return to what others believed WAS success, but rather seek out what fresh opportunities await in Ludgershall. It’s an affecting performance Pearce provides as she guides the character through storms of emotional weight and depth. Mbuyambo is another who portrays a picture of both amiableness and more initially muted uneasiness about her place in life via her turn as Deanna.
Having stayed put in Ludgershall herself, the veiled resentfulness she holds towards Jamie for having left for supposedly better things while the others remained behind doesn’t prevent her from being the true friend she is to the group. Encouraging Jamie to go to the planned evening rave with the group, it seems Deanna often plays peacemaker while, like them all, hiding her own levels of irritations and contrition about where her own place in the world has become. Mbuyambo really delivers an emotive performance, filled with subtle charm then fierce, almost defiant, vigor when things start to get out of control with the character’s part in the story. Rosato adeptly brings across the quintessential image of the happy-go-lucky, this-is-how-it-is, borderline reckless man through playing Richie, Aden’s “right hand pal” who tends to be more of the instigator of their escapades than watching out for anyone’s, much less his own, well-beings.
Pushing hard to BE the life of the party, his antics may soon prove to be more than the others are willing to put up with, though he’s still another person loyal to those he trusts most and that concern does get adequately displayed in the midst of all the craziness they get involved with on Christmas Eve. Rosato depicts Richie’s jolly, albeit haphazard, demeanor with poise and bravado that does sell you on the character while providing some great entertainment. Hall rounds out the core group through her role as Lisane, yet another of the crew who’s been stuck in Ludgershall while very much being immersed in trying to figure out who she wants to be in relationships–with men and now women. Still being another one loyal to the group and just wanting to have a great time with their coming back in touch, her own adventures at the rave they attend end up being an eye-opening experience that will affect her on a multitude of layers within her that allow her to turn into the one who might actually have the most wisdom about them all by the end of the day and evening’s insanity.
It’s a woman who’s been both happy and hurt, and Hall characterizes this with a heartbreaking vulnerability that stands out in spades thanks to the actress’ performance here. Primary supporting turns arrive first from Georgia Macleod as Fran, Aden’s current beau who isn’t happy with everything he is, more so after the arrival of someone else he was involved with, but then ends up being totally engaged with the group in the wake of everything. James Douglas-Quarcoopome is Jingle, one of Richie and Aden’s compatriots who’s that “friend you can always…..not…..rely on to get things done while also being one of the group’s….suppliers when needed….if he remembers or comes through! Ella Dunlop is Stephanie, Lisane’s newest interest who may or may not actually be completely on board with what Lisane wants to be with her. Harry Barnett is Wildy, a local drug dealer whose interactions with Aden especially becomes quite….intense and menacing. Chloe Van Harding is Rex, a random woman Aden has a run-in with who turns out to be one of the worst things that could happen to him in the events unfolding at the time.
Additional supporting appearances are made by Lynne Austin, Laura Pollacco, Robert Monteith, Jeannie Brown, David Campion, Craig Saunders, and Frankie Hubbard. So, in total, “Straight Through Crew” does an excellent job at transporting us into the arena of resolutely angst-driven and restless yet decisively credible, surprisingly heartening, and undeniably human conditions that deftly manifest lessons that fundamentally teach us to grasp onto the moments we can, relish and acknowledge them, ideally LEARN and GROW, then be wiser in seeking healthier, more promising opportunities to BE our better selves…..while perhaps still enjoying the inherent wonder that trials by fire and TRUE friendships give to us along the way.
STAR RATING (out of 5):
As always, this is all for your consideration and comment. Until next time, thank you for reading!
