WATCH THE TRAILER HERE
First, the Recap:
If you cave in to societal pressures, to what the world around you says you have to be, based on what you look like, what color your skin is, what creed you live by–what kind of existence is that? Or, when you’re encountering a pivotal moment of choice, where the event occurring is not of your own design, but someone else’s, and you have to try to assimilate the ramifications of it, how do you cope? There once was a man named Drew (Damion Rochester), who has waking images of a woman he knew and loved, Allison (Marisa Rambaran), until things fell apart. Now, as Drew shows up to his ex’s baby shower, things are about to get–complicated.
Immediately facing another past acquaintance, Julie (Lauren J. Daggett), at the door, Drew, along with his “date” Kake (Wi-Moto Nyoka), experiences an awkward chat before moving into the main party room and being somewhat of a wallflower. Initially engaged in a socially-charged conversation by one of his friends, Alex (Randall Holloway), Drew begins to lose his grip on the patience to even be in attendance. This only becomes more evident when his ex Allison and her new beau, Kevin (Justin Walker White), decide to both speak to him and, in so many ways, rub his face in their newfound joy and upcoming family addition. With this final push, Drew lashes out and questions everything going on around him, wondering when things will turn around for him.
But, even as he makes a scene with intense and unstable purpose, his world doesn’t change, but rather becomes more and more surrealistically unhinged to the point where the truth he’s coming up against only points to complete mental collapse, the disintegration of reason–and acceptance of actuality.
Next, my Mind:
Delivering a definitively formidable, persuasive, compelling, and multi-faceted narrative that is socially conscious while also being uncanny and eerily mysterious in its overall execution of themes, writer/director/editor Steven Alexander Russell’s 16-minute short film will both impact you and invoke contemplation on the notions presented within the context of the premise guaranteed. Taking in the complete and utter breakdown that Drew’s character faces, the story unravels into a kaleidoscope of mind-bending realizations he goes through leading back to a finale that brings everything full circle. This is done with such a clever and involved dive into the psyche of a character, and effectively so. Moody and cynical, the black & white cinematography enhances these tones, while societal philosophy and the concept of being in love are addressed through dialogue both angry and tender.
Rochester excels here as Drew, having to believably enact a man whose grip on anything actually real has been whole-heartedly ripped away in the face of pain, heartbreak, and other personal pressures about his own existence and lack of success in life, at least in certain perspectives. Rochester very much embodies this torn emotional and mental state in his performance. Solid supporting turns are offered by Rambaran as Drew’s ex, Allison, who tries to pass the “we can still be friends” attempt by him in good faith, White as Kevin, who really adds fuel to an already burning fire during a “shout-out” to Drew, Holloway as Drew’s friend Alex, whose conversation speaks to so many of modern society’s flaws even while falling into some of those himself, Daggett as Julie, one whom we can tell doesn’t hold to much like of Drew anymore, and finally Nyoka as Kake, who actually becomes a sole voice of grounded reason for Drew in his fragile state of mind.
In total, while containing a little bit more profanity (“F”-bombs) than this reviewer likes, “Tastes Like Medicine” is one quality independent short film effort whose uniquely offered tale supplies a real-world message wrapped in an enigmatic, intellect-scrambling, reality-warping shell that will certainly promote some introspection and contemplation from all who watch it.
As always, this is all for your consideration and comment. Until next time, thank you for reading!
