WATCH THE FILM HERE
First, the Recap:
Kin. One’s very own flesh and blood. A strong, cohesive unit that we ideally maintain throughout our lives, especially if we are seeing it from the perspective of a child towards their parent or parents. In reaching adulthood, it can become so much harder to watch those who raised us grow older themselves, as sometimes illnesses begin to show, and their fading away from us is so deeply painful. Yet, in these times, with that innate love we have for them, we should be doing whatever it takes to ensure their care is paramount to us–whatever…it…takes–right? Rebecca (Samantha Sloyan) is a woman with a plan. However, when the plan she is carrying out means conning dementia patients via acting as their daughters, it might only be a matter of time before her own game is up.
Next, my Mind:
The best of intentions pervasively collides with the desperation of unavoidable realities, choices, building crisis of conscious, and the harsh, unrelenting specter of a mind-ravaging malady being taken advantage of thanks to this compellingly provocative 20-minute Oscar qualifying short film from director/producer/editor Rachel Annette Helson, writer Jesse Harris, and producer Josh Banks that weaves a tapestry of small-time criminality into a potently dramatic morality tale that both tugs the heartstrings in its foundational and situational relatability while also leaving you with a sense of dumbfounded vexation at the audacity OF its primary premise. Now, let’s be clear here–this dichotomy in feelings is a VERY GOOD THING, as it stands as a testament to what this critic believes is the film’s core intent paired with the intelligently crafted quality of the story we’re entreated to. It is also an ongoing banner of achievement for the medium of short film and its ability to draw you in, deftly engage you, and leave a lasting impression in its wake, which is precisely what this effort does in spades.
The narrative that follows a woman’s decision to con ailing patients at a local care facility for the sake of fleecing them, the reasons for which being smartly veiled and only revealed in slow pieces at a time, is perfectly paced to fully flesh everything unfolding out while again leaving you both aghast and appeased in how it illustrates the depths of commitment we have to our parents while also addressing the dangers of the lengths we might choose to ensure our own objectives succeed at the cost of others, much less not appearing to possess a conscious in order to do so without feeling something. However, I also think this is the genius behind this project. We might be totally convinced that the main protagonist here obviously must not have ANY heart or soul when witnessing what she has chosen to do, with the sheer sense of misguided “harmlessness” in doing it that she internally rationalizes constantly. Yet, there’s no denying as the film progresses that the weight and emotional pressures she’s actually experiencing bog her down, with only the reason WHY she’s doing all of this pushing her to keep going forward with it.
The unwavering devotion to our parent or parents, requisite necessity of retaining awareness about dementia and those who are both suffering with it and those who care for them, burdens of choice, justifications of even the most unwise actions, simply wishing to be able to provide the best care for those we love, and trying to see our own worth when everything seems to be against us are all the thematic tangents present within the story, getting finalized in the film’s third act with an unequivocally stirring, fully credible finale that doesn’t shy away from conveying that, even if still somewhat mutedly so, there IS a price to pay for poor directions taken. Perhaps the whole endeavor isn’t really over, though. Maybe to even be re-birthed in a new way? Conjecture plays a part here, at least in my opinion, and that adds a beautiful layer to events, leaving you wondering, still shocked, and at the same time utterly heartbroken. The accessibility found through the grander exploration of dementia’s unforgiving nature is ultimately what I hope stands out most actually, as we should never lose sight of supporting research to combat such a malignant disease.
Having most recently enjoyed the acting prowess of Sloyan as Tamerlane Usher in 2023’s EPIC Netflix limited series “The Fall of the House of Usher” (THANK YOU, Mike Flanagan!!) while also most likely being one of the only human beings on the planet to never have watched a single episode of “Grey’s Anatomy” for the actress’ run there, it was wonderfully refreshing to see her tackle this “smaller” role with the same magnitude of grounded believability, vulnerability, and underlying, simmering intensity I’ve enjoyed (shout out to 2018’s “The Haunting of Hill House” as well! Thank you AGAIN, Mr. Flanagan!!), this time as Rebecca, a woman on a mission whose chosen path to gain what she seeks is anything but above board. Victimizing those in a care facility who suffer from dementia in order to con them out of valuables for her own initially undisclosed reasons. But, as she continues down the deceptive road she’s traveling, a single moment could end up exposing everything she’s been about, and churn up the real inner and outer issues she battles even as another wrenching truth gets uncovered.
I simply relish Sloyan’s energy and poise to deliver a character that, just being transparent, you both abhor and adore at the same time, portraying that line between genuine intent and skewed means to accomplish it that very much speaks TO human nature as a whole and the acute desire to be there for those we love. Supporting appearances are present here from Kade, Jordyn River, Kim Winter Mako, Artrial Clark, Rich Williams, John Moll, Sean Ramey, J. Barrett Cooper, and Judy Littlefield. So, in total, “Good Daughter” is a dramatically persuasive, unexpectedly jarring, yet ultimately inspiring venture into the depths of the heart, soul, and mind when it comes to that which we wish to gain for the betterment of someone but also a highly cautionary journey warning us to beware of the measures we’re taking that have just gone too far astray.
STAR RATING (out of 5):
As always, this is all for your consideration and comment. Until next time, thank you for reading!
