WATCH THE TRAILER HERE
First, the Recap:
One of two things is going to occur in watching a 15-minute short film. Either those initial moments are going to grab you immediately and make you desire to stay, or on the opposite end, the viewer to completely lose interest. Given the potential content concerns with the overall premise of “Please Punish Me”, plus knowing it was a modern comedy, this reviewer honestly expected the latter, but was surprised that the former was ultimately the result. Created by Massachusetts-based indie director Chris Esper, this whimsical little adventure introduces us to businessman Scottie (David Sackal), whose corporate aspirations and unintended success have gotten him and his frayed nerves on the ropes. Not wanting the company of sharks, he pines for escape.
Deciding he needs “punishing” for his Midas touch and inadvertent streak of luck, a coworker Tigs (Talli Clemons) offers him a card to a house of ill punishment repute, thinking that is what Scottie is seeking. Upon arrival at the locale, second thoughts quickly come about when the “receptionist” Crueger (Mark Carter) and head “mistress” Do-Rey-Mi (Lorrie Bacon) cause him serious pause. But, goaded into it, they set him up with the “new girl” of the house, Michelle (Joanna Donofrio), who more than immediately illustrates how much she is not truly into her “job” at all, constantly worrying over Scottie, even as she doles out the pain. With this unexpected turn of events, it leads them both to re-think life and the directions they are going.
Next, my Mind:
Even with its very abbreviated 15-minute runtime, one would still expect that a film with the given premise might take the opportunity to simply bombard the viewer with (as this reviewer has commented about time and time again re: modern comedy), constant crudeness, profanity, or sexual deviancy. Instead, while some minor, and mostly harmless, forays into those facets are present, the film defies the norm and turns the story on its head with a bigger message of good will, self-realization, and hope rather than an indie ode to “Fifty Shades of Grey“. While it takes Scottie a slightly more painful (though humorously so) journey, once he bonds with Michelle, the narrative’s real themes shine through wonderfully.
And the anchors to making this all come together in such an unanticipated way really goes to Esper’s fluidly moving directing and the wonderful turns by this indie’s actors. Sackal’s Scottie is a simple and straight-forward character, and yet there’s more depth to him than one would first be aware of, indicated by why he thinks he deserves his “chastisement”. Equally, Donofrio’s Michelle is completely hilarious in her timidness to perform her chosen job, but lovingly realistic in expressing her actual feelings about what she’s doing, and showing she too has the same hesitations and doubts about what to do next. Bacon and Carter’s scenery chewing moments are priceless, and what could have been another needlessly crass comedy ends up having more emotional potency than would ever be anticipated.
As always, this is all for your consideration and comment. Until next time, thank you for reading!
