Post-production effects range from sharp, to suitable, to schlocky. Acting is fine; the assembled cast embody their roles capably, though the writing deemphasizes characterizations to the point where they don't necessarily have much space to make the parts their own. The music is a touch over the top as loud, harsh, pulsing beats work to accompany scenes as much as impart the tone of the short. What 'Roam' wants you to know, first and foremost, is how very sleek and snazzy it is. There's a glossy sheen to much of the production that makes one wonder if the entire thing wasn't rendered on a computer.
Yet that waxy, shiny veneer has a purpose. 'Roam' may initially catch our attention with its dazzling sense of flair - for good or for ill - yet its style is part and parcel with its substance. And that substance is nothing to sneeze at.
It's true that 'Roam' plays with concepts that have served as the basis for many established and very recognizable stories in sci-fi and horror. Yet in narrative and in expression, those same ideas are tailored to a slightly different, very specific fit here. I'm not sure that I've ever seen another short film that felt so much like a proof of concept without pointedly being a mere proof of concept. Without betraying plot points, suffice to say there are a vast wealth of enticing story ideas here, and the weave is so enchanting that the familiarity of its composite parts can be forgiven. I could easily see 'Roam' being expanded into a much larger saga. Perhaps optioned as a sci-fi thriller series geared to young adults on The CW, or as a similarly intended film series recalling the likes of 'Divergent,' 'The maze runner,' or 'The hunger games.' I mention none of these as a direct comparison of content, but only of flavor - it seems clear to me how 'Roam' is orientated, and in that aim, it's quite excellent.
Considered of itself, the short is hardly perfect. Even putting aside technical aspects, there are choices writer-director David Jung made in the expression of the narrative that somewhat pull viewers out of our engagement. Case in point: the voiceover and exposition that concludes the short, after the action. Yet, once more: If we consider 'Roam' as merely the introduction to a much grander journey, then these same slightly distasteful garnishes are given a new perspective, like a side dish complementing a more appropriate entree.
Still, over the top as some aspects may be, 'Roam' is sufficiently well made, if imperfect, that it stands reasonably well of its own merits. Again, the true strength here is in the exploration of ideas we've seen before, but in a way that nonetheless feels fresh and imaginative, and leaves us wanting more. I'm pleased to watch this short on its own, but I can only hope for the possibility that Jung will find the backing to make this merely the basis for something more tantalizingly epic. And that, after all, may be the highest compliment I can give.
