WATCH THE FILM HERE
First, the Recap:
The need for help when facing mental crisis is one folks rarely want to admit, much less actively seek out. A desire to unburden one’s mind from tension, stress, restless thoughts, or any other circumstance that only gets worse if not treated professionally might just push one to the edge enough to truly find a fix. Yet, even if followed through on, things can still get a tad off base. Take, for example, mentally unstable patient Joseph (Chris Cottrell), whose impatience with coming to treatment is more than evident, despite the encouragement to keep doing so provided by his shrink, Dr. Waters (David Lee).
Adding to Joseph’s in session frustrations is the inclusion of Dr. Waters’ substitute intern, Sherry (Marina Bruno), whom the good doctor invites to sit, listen in, and take notes for future study. Despite hesitations about her presence, Joseph and Dr. Waters engage in their talking things out, but it soon becomes increasingly evident the flow of conversation will be constantly interrupted by Dr. Waters pointing things out about Joseph’s symptoms and behavior for Sherry’s benefit. Finally at the end of his rope, Joseph sees red and events spiral violently out of control, to ends no one expected.
Next, my Mind:
Once again playing the “woman of many parts” while furnishing us with more of the now anticipated old style music score plus another delightfully potent, twisty, tongue-firmly-in-cheek finale, writer/director/producer/actor/editor Marina Bruno’s 7-minute ode to the wonder that is personal therapy sails along with excellent realization and forehead slap-inducing humor that makes so many of her films unique and engaging. The smooth cinematography guides the viewer through a therapy session that turns from innocent to insane as fast as you can say “Sigmund Freud”, and more than illustrates that proceedings are not always as they appear, this presented to great and entertaining effect as with previous Bruno offerings.
Lee as Dr. Waters is a total head trip in itself, the actor enacting an almost satiric portrait of how we all see therapists, at least to a certain, absurd extent, while making him so overtly annoying that one cannot help but laughingly scoff at his borderline condescension and blatant arrogance in how he treats his patient here. Cottrell’s Joseph is a study in restraint and composure pushed beyond the limits, internally boiling until finally, he simply cannot take it anymore and goes ballistic in a flurry of profanity and violence. Just watching Cottrell go from calmness to absolute rage is a riot in itself, well played by the actor. And, of course, Bruno is wonderful as Sherry, a complete innocent in all that unfolds before her as she is only trying to take advantage of a learning situation run amok.
A supporting appearance by Dave Campbell as Dr. Waters’ flustered boss adds a final exclamation point on the film’s awesome finale, and in total, despite the flurry of “F”-bombs I personally wasn’t too keen on, helps cement “Reverse Psychology” as another shining beacon of indie film originality and straightforward artistic genius that begs to be recognized and acknowledged.
As always, this is all for your consideration and comment. Until next time, thank you for reading!
