I'm not quite sure which factors are most at play here. It's maybe the music, which seems relatively light in its chords. The lighting which tends to mean plenty of sunlight, perhaps, or Bella Gonzales' cinematography, which in its sharpness seems to accentuate even the faintest bit of illumination in a shot or scene. One way or another, there's something about 'The wheel' that helps it to maintain a weirdly overall bright tone - rather impressive, I think, considering how astoundingly harsh and biting the content is. Trent Atkinson's screenplay is rife with characters, dialogue, and scene writing of intense, acrid, deeply uncomfortable personality. Each successive moment is mostly downright vicious in every word, interaction, facial expression, and specific mood - the anger, the brutal honesty. All the while, as each character tries to reckon with their conflicting feelings, it's fiercely, firmly compelling. I didn't fully know what to expect when I sat to watch, but this is fantastic.
With the narrative centered so concretely on a handful of figures, it rather goes without saying that what's most immediately striking about the picture is the acting. The only cast member I'm particularly familiar with is Amber Midthunder; I thought she somewhat stole the show in her supporting part in Liam Neeson's 2021 action-thriller 'The ice road,' and she was terrific in full-on Action Hero mode in this year's exquisite 'Predator' prequel 'Prey.' I've been excited for the chance to see her in a more dramatic role, and she does not disappoint - young as she is, I dare say Midthunder has been cemented as one of my favorite actors, and absolutely a rising star who deserves ever bigger and better things to come her way, for she's outstanding here. Yet far be it from me to single her out, because while I can't say I know her co-stars, Taylor Gray, Bethany Anne Lind, Nelson Lee, and even Carly Nykanen seem to match Midthunder toe to toe with frankly powerful displays of acting skill. Atkinson's writing provides rich, splendid material, but the ensemble truly, truly, truly brings that material to brilliant life with astonishing, almost thrilling vibrancy. Every spiteful word, brusque brush-off, and destructive tear is summoned with a resonating sincerity that makes 'The wheel' surprisingly hard to watch - yet for that, all the better still.
I'm not inclined to think the cast needed any helping hand, but I sure think that filmmaker Steve Pink provides robustly capable direction to bring out the best from his actors, and from the production generally. And I need only to highlight a single scene to illustrate the point, as the lengthy, climactic final scene quite appears to be a single, stupendously shot long take. In what is surely the most emotionally taxing minutes of the feature, Midthunder and Gray bear their souls in a display of humanity that's so stunning it's almost haunting. The stars dig deep as, more than was true previously, the dialogue dances across dark topics of lasting trauma and stunted personal growth, and as viewers we feel every second with numbing immensity. Atkinson provides the fuel, the cast build the fire, and Pink shapes it into the form of greatest impact, with fabulous results.
Of course none of this is to discount the swell contributions of hair and makeup artist Sierra Barton, production designer Brianna Ingemi, or anyone else behind the scenes. By all means, however, it's the writing and the acting that stands out most and makes this feature the tremendously satisfying, rewarding experience that is, with Pink's direction only half a step behind. I readily admit it was on account of Midthunder's involvement that I first set about watching, and I assumed from the outset that I'd like it. I just wasn't prepared for how hard this movie would hit, however, with its vexing probe of troubled interpersonal dynamics and human drama. I can appreciate that it won't appeal equally to all comers, and not everyone will get as much out of it as I have. All the same, I can only say that for my part I'm taken aback by the unremitting excellence that all involved demonstrate. I rather think 'The wheel' deserves far more recognition and wider viewership, and it handily earns my most hearty recommendation. If you have the chance to watch, in my book this is a must-see.
