DeathBecomesHe

Off the bat, direction and cinematography are fantastic. The fact that most of this was filmed on a blue screen is incredible and feels so authentic, if only Cole and Cara did, too. These two feel like plants to intentionally tank this franchise. The level of care given to the story and added through adaptations from the referenced comic are leagues beyond these two actors' ability to deliver. Their chemistry is nonexistent, it's almost impossible to think of Cole as a major for the space cops or Cara as his stiff as wood lieutenant. These two being in this movie feels like what happens when nepotism gains this much control: crap performance not worthy of the material. I really feel for the director. There were certainly some interesting storyboard choices he made but overall I wouldn't mind them nearly as much were the two leads capable of doing their job. Despite the shade, if you're a sci-fi nerd, definitely see this. The world building is incredible, the effects meticulous - sure, the leads were terrible but it really didn't ruin the movie.

The disorder of this world we live in is an unavoidable aspect of reality, many of us try to put our head in the sand to pretend we don't recognize our place in that increasing entropy. A large part of that is working for companies who don't appreciate you or respect you beyond your output power. Enter Kombucha!, a hilariously frightening satire of that office drone culture most of us succumb to preserve our livelihood. What if that very preservation only increases the entropy we believe to be mitigating?

This short played at the Chicago International Film Festival's Horror shorts alone with 7 others. It stood out as one of the top features from that showing. Between the story, cinematography, a relatable main character, an eerie antagonist who we've all met before, and sound design that really transports you, truly looking forward to the full feature. Great job team!

The best way to approach this film is with minimal awareness of the content or plot. Although ascribed to a certain genre, that is an inaccurate representation.

As you move through acts, the film evolves and shifts. Pacing cycles from slow burn to a quickened pace, back and forth over ~2.5 hours. Bertrand developed the score concomitant to the script, shifting between studios writing a scene then musical accompaniments before moving onto the next. This attention to creative detail was not lost on me as I found myself moving all around in my chair throughout the entire film.

The film is a labor, one that can be exhausting if you're not a reader as they shift between French and English, but the payoff is worth it. There are so many things I want to write about the film but influencing someone's viewing of it is a major disservice. If you love film and stories, and this is all you know about it, stop, see it. Bertrand wrote the role for Léa and it is so evident. She, and all her costars, allow us to follow them on this enigmatic journey, one I'm hesitant to provide any insight into.