Published in: Indie Film Reviews

Indie Film Review “A Child’s Voice”

Author OneFilmFan

Published on: July 15, 2018

WATCH THE TRAILER HERE

First, the Recap:

The ongoing search for purpose. When we find ourselves directionless, lost, without hope, is this not often the time when unforeseen opportunity arrives? At that moment of choice, however, how we choose to react might very well define the future in store for us, and even offer a chance to so greatly impact not only our own lives, but that of others. In the dead of night, a young boy named Jacob (Jonathan Matthew Wilson) faces the ultimate nightmare in the form of two remorseless men, Rudolph (Joseph Lopez) and Daniel (Jalen Vasquez). Meanwhile, a homeless, drug-addled teen, Tim (Joey Burke), wrestles with his addictions, immersed in a haze of confusion, anger, and depression.

Yet, in an eerie turn of events, Tim begins to hear a child’s voice calling out to him for help. At first thinking he’s going mad, Tim soon realizes the voice is real and filled with both desperation and steadfast intention. Finally choosing to heed the directions it gives him, Tim finds himself on a journey of not only self-discovery but of exposing the harrowing, disturbing, and highly dangerous world of human trafficking and the men responsible for it. Joining up with an equally unanticipated partner, Kristy (Angela Mavropoulos), who’s fleeing an abusive relationship with an unscrupulous boyfriend, Matt (Kristian Pierce).  Infused with newfound conviction and aim, Tim and Kristy put it all on the line to bring justice to bear for Jacob’s restless spirit.

Next, my Mind:

Let’s face it, we as people assuredly don’t tend to want to talk about the specter of human trafficking in general, much less when it involves the absolutely sickening exploitation of children. There have been films that tackle the subject in a variety of ways, some using flat out shock value to grab attention, while others prefer a more subtle but no less effective approach. In this case, writer/director Edgar Michael Bravo and producer John Paul Rice opt to present the thematic elements about one young boy’s horrific experience and the subsequent events that follow and place them into the context of a supernaturally-based dramatic thriller. While the visuals and overall content certainly do not shy away from the harsh topic in play, it isn’t a total bombast of blatantly graphic material either, but rather potent images, actions, and words placed together to have maximum impact on the viewer’s minds while delivering it very uniquely within a currently successful genre of film. Additionally, for this reviewer anyway, it’s an exploration of how our own faults and struggles as human beings can sometimes end up being the catalyst to not only seeing our own conditions improve, but can also help allow other lives to be likewise transformed and redeemed, especially those in situations as depicted here. Given the film’s opening moments plus the very impactful finale with its haunting closing visual, it should serve as a reminder that more awareness of something ugly like human trafficking is truly necessary to bring to light.

For me, a lot must be said for young actors performing roles that cannot be easy to take on when dealing with dark subject matters. Wilson steps up to the plate wonderfully in his pivotal role as Jacob, a young boy caught in the totally depraved wickedness of corrupt men, an innocent sacrifice for pure evil, whose spirit becomes the means of redemption. There’s an earnestness to the performance, even when only via his voice, and the events leading up to desired justice and freedom are ultimately inspiring, leaving the viewer with at least some sense of peace before realizing the scope of Jacob’s crusade. Throughout, Wilson does a fine job. Burke, despite a few somewhat forced moments of emotion, delivers a solid overall performance as Tim, a teen down on his luck, barely getting by, constantly beleaguered by the drug-fueled highs he maintains, who gets the wake-up call of a lifetime that sends him on his path of renewal while receiving a sobering reality check about the perverted dishonor among men of no morals. A reluctant “hero”, Tim finds his momentum in knowing that helping someone else as well as himself brings benefit to everyone involved, and watching his growth from disheartenment to hope is a lesson for us all to embrace, much to the credit of Burke’s enactment.

Mavropoulos shines here as Kristy, a young woman stuck within the confines of a disparaging relationship with a man who’s involved in seedier dealings than she wants to know or admit. Choosing to escape him, she ends up coming into Tim’s path, at first resisting his appeals that he was guided to her, until finally allowing him to enter her sphere of existence. In doing so, she gets directly involved in saving both Tim and Jacob, opening her own acknowledgement and recognition of the greater needs to be addressed on a more notable, consistent, and essential way. It’s another character awakening that carries heightened significance here, and Mavropoulos executes all of it very well. Lopez is the embodiment of vile malevolence via his turn as Rudolph, the uncompromisingly despicable head of the trafficking ring that victimizes Jacob and who knows how many others unseen by us. His literal physical presence along with the icy cold attitude and grimly calm exterior he exudes while planning and carrying out such chilling acts is overtly unsettling, as it should be, and Lopez just makes you feel every ounce of it in his performance. Vasquez also brings on the quiet menace as Rudolph’s right hand, Daniel, who at times might actually show some minor hesitations about what he’s involved with, but remains loyal to his boss out of fear and, dare we say, respect. Often on the receiving end of nasty tirades from Rudolph, we cannot help but wonder what Daniel is really feeling inside, and Vasquez does well portraying this.

The other primary supporting role is present from Pierce as Kristy’s demanding, volatile boyfriend Matt, who’s perhaps found he’s in over his head with the people he’s chosen to be in business with. Additional turns are present from Adam Michael Jordan, Ayvah Jordan Vasquez, Bailey Brenner, and Sandra Murrillo among others. In total, “A Child’s Voice” stands as a much needed, though dark, study in realities we find in today’s world that need to be dealt with in the most quick and intentional ways so as to save as many innocents, children or otherwise, from fates as seen here. Raising awareness is never a bad thing for causes like this, and I personally applaud filmmakers who are willing to do this through their preferred medium while offering us some entertainment along the way.

As always, this is all for your consideration and comment.  Until next time, thank you for reading!