WATCH THE TRAILER HERE
First, the Recap:
Do we ever truly dare to contemplate the darkness that can reside within ourselves? It seems a bitter pill to swallow when to comes to even the vaguest notions of what we actually might be capable of if pushed to our soul’s, our very being’s, limits. When faced with such overt yet hidden inner turmoil and unspeakable thoughts, what lengths would you take to stop potential inevitability? Denny (Bryan Veronneau) is a normal man tormented by such sinister cogitation. Constantly in a state of agitated panic and fear, his fractured mind wanders to places that make him acutely aware of his volatile condition.
Initially trying to assuage his guilty conscious via seeking out absolution from a local priest (Michael Anthony Coppola), it all does very little to stem the ever-flowing tide of chaotic visions his unsettled mind induces. Choosing to then take even more radical steps to ensure something utterly foreboding doesn’t occur, it only serves to cause his pregnant wife Emma (Erika Thormahlen) to question his behavior adamantly in view of needing him to be lucid for when their soon-to-be-born baby arrives. With only a thankless job as a security guard to give him any sense of “peace”, Denny makes one final decision that will radically alter everything, and everyone, involved.
Next, my Mind:
With its highly shocking first sequence, both subdued and frenetic pacing, persistently building tension, and equally gut-wrenching finale, let’s just say that writer/director/producer/cinematographer/editor Mark Battle’s 15-minute short film leaves zero doubt about its intentionally enduring dark tone in delivering a deeply edgy narrative that formidably and convincingly addresses that notion which no one ever really wants to consider–what heinous act(s) might I actually have the capacity to commit? As we all don’t wish to ever believe ourselves remotely able to carry out anything unthinkable, the story here presents a frighteningly compelling argument via illustrating this point through the eyes of a regular, average guy suddenly thrust into the murky cavern of his own apparently fatalistic mindset while subsequently being in continual anguish thanks to somber visions of enacting it all. It showcases such a myriad of conflicted emotional reactions–disbelief, trepidation, anxiety, etc–while also presenting one man’s frenzied attempts to alleviate the issue to ensure being protected from himself while also doing what it takes to protect others who could end up on the receiving end of some seriously vile events. As a viewer, it should all leave you disturbed and unnerved, hence the mark of a well-made film that perhaps shines an all-too-real light on human nature’s wicked side.
Veronneau turns in one jarringly affecting performance in his role as Denny, an ordinary guy and expecting father suffering from some severely unordinary, violent musings and accompanying visual manifestations that now have him unstable and distraught, with seemingly no true escape from it. Out of this sense of being entrapped, Denny takes it upon himself to erratically pursue any direction that he feels is warranted to avoid what, at this point, he has concluded is the unpreventable. Yet, even through all the tense interactions with his longsuffering, pregnant wife and the hallucinations, we do see glimmers of hope and understanding that ideally paints the portrait of Denny’s true manner. However, the depth to which Denny has sunk may be too strong to overcome, leading to one more choice that will have resounding impact on himself and others. All of this is so well portrayed by Veronneau.
Thormahlen turns in a solidly emotive performance here as well in playing Denny’s pregnant wife Emma, whose only real concern is to have her husband be “all there” for when she goes into labor and their new addition is officially introduced into their lives. Her consternation at Denny’s quirky, unpredictable demeanor is understandable and sincere, and that growing uneasiness in her (despite not actually knowing what he’s really battling in his head) only emphasizes how she is bearing the weight of both a physical burden and an emotional one, which creates the palpable atmosphere of restless, nervous edginess as the proceedings unfold. Given the overall scenario, we view Emma with watchful, protective eyes, since there is no telling what might actually unfold, and Thormahlen is completely plausible in each and every scene she’s a part of here.
Supporting turns are present from Coppola as a local parish priest who administers confession to Denny and Jeremiah Kissel as Denny’s boss involved with his security guard job. It total, with its haunting imagery and thematic statements about what evil might reside within us, the pressures of life and how we deal with them, and the consequences associated with rash decisions in tow, “The Guard” is no light-hearted walk in the park, nor was it even remotely supposed to be. It is dark material that evokes real world concepts, sobering truths about humanity, and the tangible effect it has on us even if hidden in the far corners of our minds, where we certainly prefer and pray it all stays.
As always, this is all for your consideration and comment. Until next time, thank you for reading!
