WATCH THE FILM HERE
First, the Recap:
Do you REALLY know who you are? As we traverse this ever-changing path known as life, it is an unquestionable fact that we seek to know ourselves better, even as we attempt to comprehend the others that come into, become a part of, or just pass through our sphere of influence, friends or acquaintances alike. Yet, despite believing we’ve got it all figured out more often than not, what happens when its revealed that the wool was pulled over our own eyes the entire time? In a futuristic society, billions tune in to the popular game show “Who Among Us”, with its eccentric host Dr. Nadio (Terry He) revving up the live audience and viewers around the world to witness remaining contestants Seven (Susana Borosic) and Drake (Kingsley Ngadi) uncover the show’s biggest mystery–who is the android in their midst?
Next, my Mind:
Wrapped within the grander, future-set, foundational arena of science fiction, this 14-minute short film effort from writer/director tag team Rebecca Kahn and Abhishek Prasad along with producer Ryan Moore plus executive producers Adam Weitner and Mike Onley carries us into a reality where entertainment merges with the concepts of exactly how we question how we see ourselves, our identity, and what makes us human, individual, unique, and set apart from others, doing so in a manner that, while ultimately fantastical as the genre demands, still speaks volumes about real world truths and offers more than a fair share of relatability and grounded realism beyond the realm of advanced, even menacing, technology being explored.
Pursuing these actualities through the medium of a game show that has apparently captured the entire world’s attention and holds its viewers, in a way, prisoners to what might be their own innate need to discover something that goes above their own existence while perhaps even being “controlled” and manipulated into a state of frenzied anticipation that begs for release, the narrative paints a final portrait of what occurs when one particular person’s sense of self in definitively and highly publicly called into question, with the results stirringly and jarringly impacting us and initiating genuine empathy for this traumatized soul whose initial humiliation may lead to stark and equally unnerving revelation or something else utterly unexpected.
While it could be stated that by the time the film’s climax arrives, which some might consider predictable while to others an enigma until those closing moments, it doesn’t, in my opinion, take anything away from these grander thematic objectives the story is focused on. It really does all speak to just now much we as human beings can put on those proverbial masks, trying to be something we’re actually not, believing in it SO much that we do end up possibly deceiving ourselves, and then by default, others around us, rather than just being willing to openly live as who we are, completely confident in the value and worth it engenders within us, and allow that to dictate our subsequent behavior, manner, and demeanor, regardless of what the world around us chooses to think.
Let’s face it, we’ve all been fake at some point in time, and we can only hope that the lessons we learn from those experiences continue to teach us that being real with ourselves and others is so much more the way to go, especially in view of just how often being false only brings detriment and frustration. This film encompasses this within the other fears yet excitement we have in this present world of artificial intelligence and the notion of things such as actual androids who either look, think, or even feel, like we do roaming in our midst like in scenarios ranging from “Terminator” to “I, Robot”. It’s scary really, but don’t get me wrong, this effort is just as engagingly entertaining as it is deftly, dramatically riveting in its execution, with a visual look for its electric game show-centric atmosphere that most certainly calls to mind any number of similar, real life shows we have seen.
He is an absolute joy to watch here as the show’s crazily but oh-so-amusing energetic, over-the-top host Dr. Nadio, a man on a mission to get every possible ounce of sheer enthusiasm, shock and awed reactions, and total spectacle-infused wonder out of the show’s worldwide and live audience. As events unfold and the end is coming, Nadio gets even more tantalizingly, deliciously smug in his delivery, and it makes for a superb performance by He, who greatly reminded this critic of the wonderfully fun antics of “Iron Chef America” Chairman, Mark Dacascos. Ngadi brings a slightly less evident but still very present level of intensity to his role as Drake, one of the show’s two remaining contestants whose task it is to convince everyone else he hasn’t been the android the whole time. His self-assured, straightforward attitude would seem to indicate this, but it remains to be seen how it all unfolds, with Ngadi pulling us along with engaging poise and purpose.
Then there is Borosic’s emotionally timid then adamantly desperate tone and manner through her role as the other finalist, Seven. Also very assertive and cool-headed that she’s who she says she is, the combination of initial results that Dr. Nadio brings up along with the incessant seeds of doubt sown into her suddenly shaken positivity, Seven begins to melt down severely for all to see. It’s honestly a wrenching performance and wholly accessible to anyone who’s ever faced bouts of self-inflicted or situational disbelief and uncertainty, and Borosic just embodies this deeply crippling turmoil with excellence and wincingly acute believability. Additional appearances are made by Rosie Wyse, Wayne Wylde, Tyson Coady, Mishka Balilty, Ryan Moore, Samiya Hassan, Aries Chung, Soli Joy, and Lorne J. Fortune.
In total, “Who Among Us” is an entirely worthy indie short film that once again shines that not-always-so-comfortable light on a multitude of facets of who we are as people while likewise providing us a brief escape from reality along the way. It calls to mind an undeniable wonder as to exactly what our future might look like, though in all sincerity, one hopes it won’t ever quite end up looking like this in the long run. But, after all—who among us really knows—right? Please queue that ominous, suspense gameshow music now, please.
As always, this is all for your consideration and comment. Until next time, thank you for reading!
