WATCH THE TRAILER HERE
First, the Recap:
The deeply skewed perspective of the unsettled mind and the fracturing of tolerance within those that must find the fortitude to endure those suffering from it. It goes without saying that handling any issue involving mental health can be painful and tedious, potentially bringing one to the edge of their own sanity. But, when the person in need is one whom we love dearest, how much harder is it to let go or to do what’s necessary to see them aided? A young woman named Grace (Evelyn Lockley) knows this to an extreme degree via living in a council estate with her mentally ill mother Cathy (Kate Lock). It is a situation out of control that’s brought Grace to a breaking point.
Suffering from a highly intricate delusion that dictates who she believes she is and what actions she must initiate to maintain her own sense of “reality”, Cathy’s behavior is both erratic and volatile, even to the point of being life-threatening to her own daughter. Grace works her way through the mayhem of her mum’s tormented world, playing along with it all to at least keep Cathy occupied despite how far-fetched her antics involving conspiracies, hidden agendas, and government spying are. Yet, as Grace sees just how desperate Cathy’s situation has truly become, experiencing an ever-growing state of agitation and breakdown in rationality along the way as well, it’s clear there’s only one solution that, even though for Cathy’s betterment, might ultimately extract an even costlier toll on Grace.
Next, my Mind:
High drama, affecting intensity, and emotionally-charged storytelling dominate writer/director Serena Chloe Gardner’s 10-minute short film which delves deep into the very current and relevant issue that is mental health, it’s explosive unpredictability, the burden it places on those caring for loved ones afflicted by it, and the hard choices made to ensure people get the help they need, even as it hurts so much to see their pain, confusion, and shattered actualities. Here, from the very first harrowing sequence to the equally potent, haunting, and tear-inducing finale, the narrative never lets you rest, keeping up a superb level of tension and upheaval which serves its themes so overtly well. Again, there’s a necessary social message presented, seeing that so many plagued by such maladies often seemed to be maligned rather than treated or seen as perhaps not worth aiding, which in itself is a sad testament to a world grown cold and so dispassionate in overall terms. These are individuals who require specific care while there should also be a greater acknowledgement to those family members like portrayed in this film that make the effort to do so, even at the risk of their own state of being. The sheer, overwhelming pressure placed on one young woman to try and fight through a totally unmanageable circumstance is so deftly illustrated throughout this effort, and it will hopefully remind us all that actual situations like this do exist. The cinematography very acutely captures the frantic state of affairs through fast-paced imagery that encompasses the characters well, while a solid orchestral score highlights and lends to the seriousness of events.
Full and absolute credit needs to be doled out to Lockley for her performance as Grace, a young woman immersed in a virtually impossible plight that has, as mentioned above, not only brought her to the brink, but has even caused potentially deadly occurrences aimed at her to manifest. The mere fact this is her own beloved mother perpetrating said instances only makes matters harder, even as Grace so bravely tries to successfully navigate her mother’s turbulent actions while actually seeking an intervention. But, what then places an even bigger exclamation point on the proceedings is in the aftermath of a tough decision, Grace herself is clearly in need of help as well, as the pent-up emotions finally flow out of a weary and beaten down soul. All of this is so effectively portrayed by Lockley in a true gem of a performance. This, of course, is not at all to take away from the legitimately amazing turn enacted by Lock as Cathy, an individual completely tormented by inner demons that take her in and out of reality, making her oblivious to her exploits, and drawing her further and further into the world she believes she’s in, all taken out on her daughter. It’s both disquieting and heartbreaking to see Cathy move in and out of the recognition of how much she does love Grace, as the “missions” keep interfering with any real moments of connection they might have. This only makes Cathy’s realization of what is about to transpire in the film’s finale that much more impactful and poignant, and Lock does a masterful job throughout in embodying such a tragic character. The actresses, both together and apart, are simply magical, engaging, and convincing.
Supporting turns are present from Brian Yansen as a local doctor called into action, Mitchell Fisher as a supposed “informant”, Richard Warren as a supposed “agent”, Martin Sales and Karene Ambler as law enforcement officers, Louise Jukes as a social worker, and certainly one cannot leave out Bug Pugglesworth as The Pug. In total, “Blackout” is an exceptional piece of indie short film work via its no-nonsense approach to the important themes it addresses while providing characters and a narrative that keenly impact the viewer, elicit the desired emotional response, and showcase the ongoing drive, purpose, and passion so excellently displayed in the indie film community.
As always, this is all for your consideration and comment. Until next time, thank you for reading!
