I remember pretty well that I have not seen a short movie like this on television, and reviewing a compact film with good acting, sound and story and direction makes me feel privileged. Heavy Rain, by Motaz Elbahaey, is an extremely well-directed film with the main theme of revenge.
This story is about a boy, young and confident, who seeks revenge against his father. Because of the uncommon plot, I won't provide too much information about the movie - it is interesting, worth watching and I want you to watch it, too. So, let's keep the suspense burning inside your mind.
The lead character plays a strong role in the movie. An 18-year-old Marty is in his last year of high school and he's an artistic guy who doesn't care much about sports. He plays the guitar and he is very close to his mother. The way Marty justified his character and showed love for his mother is truly heart-rending.
The director tried to mix the essentials of the genre with some picks that might be less familiar to you. Of course, he didn't have space for everything, so he tried to develop the story in a very clean way. In a matter of a few minutes, the story is already well-understood and it has a more straightforward narrative than some of the crime pictures of this period. The movie is thrillingly intense, with a level of violence that will surprise you.
The most interesting part of this film that struck me when I started my review is the title; it is a clever personification. Heavy rain in a negative way represents ruthless, inconsiderate, uncaring iciness. So, it has a great similarity with the character in the story, especially since it was raining at the time when the crime took place. The performances of various characters are impeccable throughout the movie and the main theme of revenge develops later on, keeping the necessary tension simmering.
The plot is interestingly even-handed and not afraid to suggest that the spilling of blood will have the real power to heal Marty's emotions. Even though the film is a tragedy, the behavior of Marty gets justified in a certain way.
The ending was 99% well-directed and no one will ever guess that this is a student movie, because of its amazing appeal and matureness. Doug Haley took on the complex role of Marty, which is both realistic and emotional, wrestling with sadness as he wants to beat his father up. Marty is torn between conflicting emotions; even though he was raised to respect his father, he still feels a strong need to take revenge on him. Jonathan Cripple in the role of Fred, the alcoholic father of Marty, was fantastic in portraying the negative role. Estella Volturo as Tessa may be the child star but she has also proved to be an excellent actress in her portrayal of the protagonist's sister.
Samantha Romero was impressive in her role of a 19-year-old girl Laura from an upper-middle-class family; average height, well-proportioned and slender with a softly and kind face. She met Marty in high school and her character formed a life-changing friendship with Marty. She was able to convincingly convey what it's like to protect your first true friend. Overall, the actors did a fine job in making the story come alive with their performances which were intense and mature beyond their experience.
Reviewed by Riya Saha/Cult Critic/CICFF
