WATCH THE TRAILER HERE
First, the Recap:
It’s an outward flowing ripple effect, those consequences which spiral away from the center of a choice, a decision, that we make and the ramifications subsequent to its enacting. Were we able to change a certain outcome, would it truly impact the results we’re aiming to nullify for the better? Or is there a remote chance that to alter one instance is to invite further, even more agonizing pain? It’s a normal day at home for one woman (Nadine Nagamatsu), or at least so it would seem. Calmly enjoying an afternoon read, her reveries are interrupted by the sound of a phone “ding” and the message on screen that follows, which paints a much different tale of who she is.
Upon assessing the situation, a video call with a young girl named Kelsey (Corrie Fleming) proceeds, a time of happiness for the two of them as news shared brings a smile and newfound excitement to them both. Upon hanging up, the woman heads upstairs only to find herself confronted ultimately by a trio of eerily masked intruders (S. Joe Downing, Ayuba Audu, and Reeve Barceloux). Seeing no way out, the voiceless, menacing threesome presents a request to be taken to her safe, in which resides an object worth more than money. Satisfied upon retrieving it, a violent series of events bursts forth, leading to utilization of the enigmatic object and its highly unique properties. But, will the ensuing aftermath lead to resolution or utter heartbreak?
Next, my Mind:
The fully capable, artful, and apt creative intelligence found in so much of the indie film community comes to life with a full-on dive into worlds encompassed by the horror/thriller and sci-fi genres via this 8-minute short film effort from writer/director/producer/editor Tim Earnheart, proving yet again how much can be said in so little time and still carry an emotional punch and engaging storytelling. Expanding out from the foundational theme of a home invasion, the narrative wastes no time in hurtling the viewer into events that illustrate the power and joy of anticipation, the heavy burden of secrets, the high volatility of the unexpected, the outcomes of frantic decisions, and the sometimes harsh reality that those things we wish to influence for our notion of what’s better doesn’t always equal the intended goal. The mix of the elements that cover said genres mentioned above was a truly clever twist to the proceedings, certainly adding a depth to it that might not necessarily have been present otherwise, especially given the grander nature of home invasion scenarios as depicted in many a film over the years. It takes a fresh perspective and thought base to change it up in a way that viewers will be drawn in by, and for this reviewer, that’s exactly what occurred here with superb, impactful, purposeful execution, ending with a finale that hits you right in the gut and heart. The cinematography captures both the scope and intensity of events very skillfully in order to provide the best experience visually for us so as to appreciate every facet of what is on display to the fullest, with angles and edits that emphasize key moments wonderfully. Certain FX shots are just a hair shaky, but nothing that remotely takes away or lessens the impact of what we witness. Otherwise, it’s a very solidly and professionally shot effort here.
Nagamatsu, who also served as a producer on the film, does a fantastically believable job in portraying the woman, an innocent enough looking individual who hides a much more fierce skill set than one would come close to imagining, on top of having successfully hidden away an object of immense value that many, many people would covet. Still, her outward appearance and initial demeanor belie this side of her existence, more so being focused on a recent development that has her currently tranquil life filled with happiness. However, that “other side” of her soon comes calling, despite an anticipation of the occurrence happening, and she finds herself at the mercy of three thugs who more than mean business with the items she possesses. What starts as a mere threatening situation with what should be a fairly harmless end turns quickly into an escalated incident that sees high order violence and unforeseen conclusions that dictate the fate of everyone involved. The emotive nature of Nagamatsu’s performance really shines forth throughout the film with her deftly navigating the ever-fluctuating tone of the narrative, and again makes the character well-grounded and realistic all the way–as an everywoman and action star–to the bitter and wrenching end, a true credit to great character actors like her.
Not to be outdone, though, Downing, Audu, and Barceloux turn on the ominously intimidating menace as the three perpetrators that come calling on the woman to obtain the object of their devious intentions which is locked in the safe. Looking like characters straight out of “The Purge”, creepy clown masks at all, the trio represents pure evil yet not mindless malice, as we soon understand a little more about the nature of the world they reside in and the technological advances at hand which have a huge influence on how they choose to do what they’re doing. It’s only hinted at, and to try to explain more might enter Spoilerville (which will NOT happen here), but suffice it to say, the kind of knowledge both they and the woman possess is quite scary in many respects. As the trio, known here as Ghostface, Stitchface, and Mangler (a little generic, perhaps, but we can let it slide), wield their knives, drills, and spiked bats, there’s no denying it’s not smart to mess with them–usually–until the circumstances definitively turn against them. Yet who exactly gets the last laugh is key, and no matter what their future might or might not hold, all 3 actors, largely without hardly saying a single word, successfully and effectively create the sinister air that malevolence requires in a film like this. Kudos, boys, kudos.
A single, yet hugely important supporting role is found via Fleming as Kelsey, a young girl who’s about to become part of a much needed and beautifully satisfying new step in her life that gets potentially altered by the occurrences. In total, “Safe” is a stroke of genre-mashing genius that holds you captive from the beginning, first lifting you up, then bringing you crashing down in a flurry of chaos, until finally striking you right in the face in the culmination of lessons learned when it comes to any desire of possessing things of value the wrong people want, facing a challenge to your own possible detriment, and finding out too late that changing things doesn’t always bring triumph.
As always, this is all for your consideration and comment. Until next time, thank you for reading!
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