Char Hardin Horror Movie Reviews and Interviews: Short Film ...

Starring: FrankNasso, Michelle, Kochanski and SyraMcCarthy Dances with Films FestivalCategory: Short ? Family - Thriller

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WOW?Non-Stop Action!?Tessa, a teenager witnesses the brutal murder of her beloved best friend?her older sister. The one person she looked up to and had fun and years of good memories is gone at the hands of an abusive boyfriend. Something snaps inside Tessa and zaps her, taking away her smile, happiness and the energy to care and show compassion. She is HURT and ANGRY all the time and her withdrawal from school and life takes its toll on her school work and friendships. She turns away from the good of life and instead focuses on anything that reckless, rebellious and that means illegal.The opening scenes, Tessa is acting out her frustrations in a very disruptive and negative way?she is shoplifting and, she runs in to shopping center garage and hides. While the guard who followed her is forced to figure out here whereabouts, Tessa is crouched down beside a car, waiting for the guard to leave. She looks down and sees a box wrapped in duct tape. It?s a box?a beat up box. Tessa grabs the box and runs home.Once home, in the privacy of her room, she opened the box and takes out the contents, a cassette tape and pictures. She has just become a participant in a mad-man?s game and if Tessa doesn?t follow directions?a young girl about her age will be the next one to die. Tessa makes it her goal to help at any and all costs, no matter the price or the consequence to her. She must save this girl.Oh?WOW! I liked this short film and am excited after reading the press kit, which was included with the DVD the director Sean McCarthy is gearing up to make a feature film of BOXED UP! I would be very interested to see him do so. The character Tessa is a tortured soul and MichelleKochanski turned in an excellent performance of a troubled teenager who is hurt and mad as hell at the world. Her young heart is furious that her sister is no longer apart of her life. She feels robbed and cheated of that life of happiness that could have been hers. Instead she is bereft and left behind, because of her sister?s jealous boyfriend. We see these feelings and her angst, because this talented actress showed these emotions so well. She was not just reading lines?she became Tessa and took the viewer on a journey to save another life.The camera work on this film was crazy but crazy in a good way. The use of hand-held camera gave an up close personal account of Tessa as she was on the move. The camera man had to be in excellent shape to keep up with her. For a good part of the film, she is on the move running, jumping dropping and rolling or sliding down in constant motion. From my reading, we are getting guerilla filming (Guerilla Wanderers Films) and it shows and is done well. The film is not shot entirely by hand-held the other time is on 35 mm, because it is crisp and clearer.

Everything aspect of the film from the acting, filming, musical score, action/stunts is non-stop and had me grinding my teeth. I was unsettled by the ending and little confused. The film is only seventeen minutes and five seconds and yet a lot of ground is covered well, it would be my hopes that with more time in a feature, the ending would better executed (for me). It?s good, the way it is, but there is something, I can?t quite put my finger on that?s missing for me to be satisfied. I would still recommend seeing the film and would love to hear others comments on the ending. I may be off on the end, but I know, I quite enjoyed the overall feel and look of the film.

The film is a metaphor where one small box sets into motion a spiraling effect of madness, chaos and determination of Tessa to save. She is dealing with internal emotions anger and rebellion just scratch the surface of the tragedy she has suffered through. Her character is "boxed up" seething with trying to escape the situation and hoping for redemption for her current mistakes. A well written and executed script and multifaceted character.

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