WATCH THE TRAILER HERE
First, the Recap:
When we see depictions of the future, it so often entails the notion that crime has been virtually eradicated. Society has come up with ways to ensure that everyone is provided for, need isn’t an issue, and peace prevails, hence there is no need for anyone to break the law in a desperate attempt to survive. But, for a young man Tom (Euan Bennet), this utopia doesn’t exist. Struggling in a not-so-idyllic future and coming off a bout with drug addiction, Tom seeks out an old friend Lucas (John Gaffney) to advise him about a potential score. Not liking his young friend is heading down another rough path, Lucas refuses. Unthwarted, Tom turns to another source for help.
Arriving at the job’s location, plus ignoring a voice message from his wife Lucy (Katie Barnett), he preps his new companion, Hugh (Calum MacAskill), for what actions he needs to accomplish. Entering the locale, Tom accosts his target, a bank guard named Sam (George McWilliam), while Hugh and a terrified witness look on. However, Sam is not willing to be compliant with Tom’s demands, and the situation escalates. Finally utilizing Hugh to assist him in obtaining the object he’s there for, Tom believes his “perfect crime” has been successful. Yet, nothing has truly gone as smoothly as it should, and soon, the entire endeavor comes to a head in such a away as to become a reminder about why trusting certain things isn’t always the right choice.
Next, my Mind:
For writer/director Johnny Herbin and producer Chris Quick, “Electric Faces” stands as an 11-minute short film effort that endeavors to tell its dystopian-set narrative in the most simple and unembellished way possible without losing the integrity of the concepts presented or the characters enacted. This has been successfully executed here, as the film zips along its given trajectory at brisk pace and via straight-forward visuals and dialogue. The sheer starkness of the overall production actually aids the mood and atmosphere of the film, almost becoming a means in itself to showcase the bleakness of its world’s condition while equally illustrating the desperate circumstances Tom is in and the methods by which he chooses to pursue what he believes is his only recourse for survival.
Bennet is very effective in his role as Tom, given his young age and it being his very first film, which this reviewer actually feels helps him lend a better sense of believability to the character’s plight, as there’s still an innocence about him that belies him being someone about to dive into a criminal action. And given the integral piece of the puzzle Hugh represents, MacAskill really gives a wonderful performance in that role as well, and there’s a powerful statement made through the character about our reliance on technology. Solid supporting turns by Gaffney, McWilliam, and Barnett are present here as well, and they all have this small but important part to play in the story’s moral.
Overall, “Electric Faces” can stand as another good example of how such a short runtime can truly deliver a potent message amidst a swiftly-moving story and perhaps even serve as a reminder about the ramifications of decisions and our reliance on things we take for granted.
As always, this is all for your consideration and comment. Until next time, thank you for reading!
I saw this last night. The robot costume is so cool! It’s a wonder short film.