The Ghost Trap

It's a difficult movie to review. The first half feels uplifting. It seems like the characters are dealing with their tragedy heroically. Alas! The second half makes you realize that all this was a ruse, and in reality, the characters are losing in their struggle.

The transition between the two halves is brutal. The tragic end, while not a shocker, hits the viewer pretty hard.

On the acting front, all did well, but most had limited screen presence to actually showcase their full potential. It was probably by design, but most would feel conflicted about Jamie (played by Zak Steiner). Overall, a watchable movie.

The story is compelling with great performances by the actors. The coast of Maine is a beautiful background and setting for the film. The story is unique in that it depicts everyday people struggling with real life issues of love, making a living and family conflict. The ending is heartbreaking. The cinematography is outstanding especially the underwater scenes. The film is authentic in its depiction of how-to lobster. Pulling traps, maneuvering the lobster boats and bating the traps. All show the producers were concerned with realism.

Mainers will recognize many of the locations that appear in the surrounding scenes. The music is original and blends well with the scenes. The Editing of the film is first class.

This film does not have the traditional 'hero's arc' storyline. Instead it is a slice of life peek into an intriguing subculture that most of us would never have a chance to know. A lifestyle that is filled with beauty, feuds, danger, and struggle. The characters are deeply noble, and also deeply flawed at the same time. The movie doesn't make an attempt to present the entire history of each on-screen relationship or resolve every conflict. Instead, you just get a window into a season of life for the characters, and it ends up feeling very relatable.

I was thoroughly impressed with the production elements: the cinematography, scenery, editing, etc. Each helps the watcher to engage with the tale being told.

Not great, but not bad. As usual the movie got a super high rating. The last I looked it got an IMDb rating of 9.4 with only 7 people rating it. That usually means they are friends and family of the folks involved in the making of the film. Anyway, on to discussing the movie itself. It's pretty predictable. A guy and his girlfriend are out to sea. He's a lobsterman and she's helping out. She accidentally goes overboard, and by the time he rescues her, she suffers brain damage. She struggles for the whole rest of the movie. You think that she eventually is going to recover, but actually the opposite happens. I won't give any more of the movie away, but let's just say it's depressing as all get out. So if you're in the mood for something uplifting, give this one a pass.

This movie as well as movie 'Islander' are unexpected gems when it comes to movies blending beauty of Downeast Maine, struggles of daily life, dilemmas and dramas and serious set backs, and it seems pretty rough life of lobstermen and dark sides of the business associated with their livelihood. Both movies have loose ends and open endings (no miracles) and the stories are surprisingly deep and convincing and multi-faced, which make them superb. Looking forward to more movies of the directors. I have been to this region of Maine last Thanksgiving and I found scenography of this movie to be very well done.