The days of being self quarantined during the Covid Pandemic aren't that far behind us. I can recall the feeling of isolation. Going grocery shopping at 7 am to avoid the crowds. Walking on the opposite side of the street from approaching strangers. And spending long hours indoors, in search of ways to avoid the inevitable boredom. So a movie about an agoraphobic musician rekindles some of that anxiety.
Lost Inside" is the brilliant writing and directing debut for Jeff Hindenach, and it portends great things to come. The film is gently paced and could easily have been adapted from a stage play. It's full of gentle whit, intense conversations, and a great insight into the inner workings of the mind of a recluse. It's also an excellent showcase for three newcomers to the screen: Spencer Scruggs, Garret Ryan, and Serra Naiman. Look out for big things from this talented trio of gifted young actors.
Benji Williams (Scruggs) is a rock star who's had a meteoric career and was considered a one-hit wonder. His days of fame and fortune were numbered due to his difficulty in handling the notoriety that went along with it. The screaming mobs of fans and pushy paparazzi eventually got to him and after a couple of infamous incidents, he completely withdrew and hid in an apartment, out of the public eye and scrutiny. We catch up with him after five years of self-imposed isolation.
We meet Benji, suffering from an extreme case of agoraphobia. He never leaves his apartment, and is spooked by someone knocking at his door, even when it's just a delivery person. The hermit spends his days watching TV, playing video games, and occasionally having zoom calls with a therapist, which doesn't seem to be helping him much. Just the thought of leaving his apartment terrorizes him. We learn that over the five years he's been cooped up, much has happened. His girlfriend left him, his fans are trying to discover his whereabouts, and his mother passed away. Due to his condition, he missed her funeral and we find him occasionally chatting with her urn.
Out of the blue, a complete stranger suddenly appears in his apartment. In reality, Jordan (Ryan) is Benji's alter ego. He's a quick-whitted, smart Alec whose constant banter is a bit of a comic relief in the film. Obviously he knows everything about Benji and he knows just what to say to get under his skin. Jordan pops up when we least suspect it, like sitting on the toilet when Benji's taking a shower. Or chiming in when Benji's trying to talk to someone else. It also drives Benji nuts when he flicks his cigarette ashes into his mother's urn.
Then one day, a pretty young woman knocks on his door. It's his new neighbor Sylvia (Naiman), who's just moved in next door. She's a vibrant, chatty character determined to get Benji to overcome his fear of the outside, no matter how long it takes. They begin their relationship by sitting in their respective doorways, playing a game where they try to toss pieces of fruit into each other's glasses of wine. Scruggs does a totally convincing job displaying the pain he's going through in attempting to break out of his paranoia. It's almost painful watching his facial distortions. You can't help but wonder if Sylvia has some ulterior motive for befriending and helping Benji.
As you'd expect in a film that takes place in basically one location, you really get a sense of claustrophobia. This is aided by the astute camerawork of Unnikrishnan Raveendranathen (try saying that name three times quickly). The movie was filmed during the heart of the pandemic, so it naturally relies heavily on a tight screenplay and great acting. Mr. Hindenach's first film succeeds brilliantly and I look forward to see where he goes from here.
