This is another one of those science fiction films that's not really a sci-fi. There are no spaceships, lasers, flashy CGI or goofy sound effects. It's just a drama with a science fiction premise. The main character, Kim (played by Bodine Boling), is obviously not from around here -- she's curious about the culture she finds herself in and is constantly practicing phrases and mannerisms to try to fit in. And she continually lies about who she is and what she's doing. But the stunning truth is eventually revealed.
A cast of relatively unknown actors and some very well-written dialogue make this film one of the most surprisingly realistic gems I've seen from independent producers. The score is so unobtrusive it's nearly imperceptible, yet perfectly sets the mood in each scene. And it's intensity matches the intensity of the scenes. The cinematography and the sets are prosaic, forcing the viewer to focus on the characters and dialog. The soft lighting and desaturated color in most of the scenes along with the bare sets and close camera work make the scenes seem more real. The filmmakers occasionally used hand-held shots (which I normally don't like) in some of the scenes throughout the film, but it was subtle and purposeful.
I didn't detect a single bad performance throughout this film. A real surprise was the young actor playing the teenage character Rachel (played by Catherine Missal). It's not often that you see a young person who is able to effectively present the depth of a character as she did in this film. Also, Bodine Boling who played the main character and wrote the story/screenplay turned in a brilliant performance.
There was only one black character in this small cast, who played Kim's coworker, Marcel (played by Haile Owusu). I didn't detect any racially derisive content, as is normally the case with big-budget, studio-produced films, however, the character was often opposing or thwarting the protagonists. Even so, Marcel seemed like a likable guy and overall the film didn't appear to be racist in any way.
As the story progresses, more and more secrets are revealed as a good mystery should do, and in the end the audience learns the truth about where Kim and the others actually came from, although there aren't a lot of details provided about that place or the circumstances surrounding their departure.
Overall, it's a well-written, well-produced film with a compelling story and without racist content, so I'm giving it a rating of 8/10.
Advisory: very light violence in a couple of scenes with a little bit of blood.
Rating 8/10.
