Backwards Faces

Saw the trailer for this on Letterboxd a few weeks ago and decided to give it a watch when it came out. I liked the comedy + scf-fi melding and thought it could be up my alley as someone who enjoys indie cinema quite a lot. It exceeded every expectation I had. It is clearly shot on a low budget but it is not something you really notice or care about once the characters start talking. The dialogue is incredible, the performances are amazing, and the story is really well written. It is not the type of film that is going to blow you away with camera moves and special effects but it is definitely going to make you question your own existence and what it means to be alive and to be a person which I think is wayyyy better. I loved it and I think anyone who wants something with a little more wit and a little more brains than your average mainstream sci-fi will love it too.

As my title suggests, this is a very entertaining movie by any standards, rather than just "for a low budget indie movie". I've seen plenty of $100M+ movies by major studios with major stars that aren't nearly as good.

I literally googled "best new sci-fi movies streaming now" and this is one of the first ones that came up. I heartily agree.

You know from the description that it deals with parallel universes, and I won't spoil it by saying much more, but it's original, funny, and mind-bending.

I can't find a budget anywhere, but it's hard to imagine it could be more than a few thousand dollars. It only has two actors and all takes place in one apartment. The minor special effects could be done these days with free video editing tools. I'm guessing they just ordered pizzas instead of springing for craft services.

In spite of that, it doesn't look cheap at all. It looks very polished and professional in the acting, the blocking, and the framing of the scenes. This is somewhat surprising given that this is the ONLY IMDB credit not only for the two actors, but for the writer/director/editor as well.

The choice to render it in black and white could have (should have?) come across as pretentious, but it doesn't.

It's bit on the short side, but I'm OK with that. Too many movies pad things out because they feel they just MUST get to 90 minutes - or these days, sometimes 2 to 3 hours. This got the job done and exited without wearing out its welcome.

I really hope we'll be seeing more of these folks in the future.

I watched this film on the recommendation of my small town newspaper. I'm not typically a sci-fi fan, but I found this film novel, funny, and overall a smart sci-fi comedy. Actors Morra and Sickles are expressive enough to play several characters. Ken comes off sort of dumb, so his interactions with the quick-witted and brilliant Sydney (a perfect foil) made me laugh. The end blew me away. Don't blink or you might miss a joke, as they come quickly.

Cons: I expected a low-budget film set in one location with just two actors, and these expectations were met. If that seems too bare-bones, and you prefer a colorful big budget film, you might not love this movie. However, I am impressed with the special effects and production of such a low-budget film.

From the opening scene, I was completely captivated by the clever and witty dialogue. The actors were both fantastic and I found myself fully absorbed in the story. I went into this movie totally blind and loved the ride!

I was so impressed by the quality of the writing and acting that I have to watch it again! I'm sure there were many great lines that I missed the first time around.

Overall, this indie gem exceeded all of my expectations. It was clear that every detail had been carefully crafted to create a cohesive and engaging story. Such a joy to watch!

A unique and 10/10 indie film!!!!

I really loved this film. I watched it on a whim after seeing a hyperbolically laudatory review on twitter and while it is clearly a low budget film with multiple limitations, I was charmed by its humor and just how clever all the set ups were. The dialogue was phenomenal. It is whip smart and fast paced. I would say it is impossible to be bored by this film. The lead performances are incredibly special. I'm not sure how neither of these performers are big stars yet, but I think that is on the horizon for them. The overall tone of the film was so unique. It was like Monty Python doing an episode of Black Mirror. And "episode" is maybe the operative word because at just 68 minutes, Backwards Faces does not overstay its welcome. It is short, sweet, and to the point. Those less adept in microbudget indie film watching may have complaints, but I think after three minutes, you'll forget all that as you fall into the trance of the dialogue, performances, and mind bending philosophical science fiction.