AFTERMATH (2021)
Tagline: There is no end, only a new beginning.
(Sci-Fi, Post Apocalypse, Lots Of Dirt) [Short]
Note – There was no MPAA rating for this movie, but it would likely have been a PG-13 or even a PG.
In this one the majority of humanity is wiped out, the world is basically a giant wasteland, and any search for tech or power ends up in blue-eyed androids trying to kill you. A drifter we will call “Sandman” has just dropped into a building beneath the desert, what he discovers could be the pathway to hope or the vessel of one final annihilation.
First off, this film is only about 10 minutes long so trying to “world-build” in this time span I thought was a bit of a mistake. Like many short films, we only get what is basically a beginning with this damn thing. It’s extremely hard to tell who is good and who is bad and what even is really going on. I mean outside of that intro I wrote, there isn’t much to tell here. It was written by Larry Coulter and it feels like there should just be a lot more going on here, but I am trying not to complain too much.
If this was meant to be the start of a movie or TV show, it’s actually pretty well done. The characters are fine and there is nothing to really dislike overall with them. While most of this works visually, the effects are very rough when it comes to the big explosion scene, even for an independent effort. There are literally effects suites you can buy online better than this. However, the actual costume design work and the look of these androids (or whatever the heck they are) is pretty awesome.
For me the narration kind of fails even though it’s coming from one of the characters we get to see, it doesn’t feel dynamic or draw me in. It feels like having some random dude off the street come and try to explain how coffee is made to you with no script. Outside of the bit of confusion, this movie isn’t a downer like a lot of sci-fi “end of the world” films and it leaves you with a sense of hope. Sandman and his “grumpy 7th-grade history teacher” looking friend are going to figure something out.
The acting is pretty solid all around, but I felt the score was just a little too lackluster for the scenes and intensity they were trying to convey.
I have to give this one a 4 out of 7. Good start, just wish we had a full story. I liked that this didn’t have anything over the top crass, annoying, or “kids, cover your eyes”. It’s all a bit of fun, now where is the rest? I mean it…someone get on the horn and find me the rest!!! It’s probably hanging out in the middle of the sand dunes somewhere.
GRAPHICS ARE THE PROPERTY OF JEREMY ROBBINS FILM AND ARE USED FOR REVIEW PURPOSES ONLY.
Please check out the link below by clicking on the picture. Because no one should die buttonless.
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