Before I begin, I want to clarify that I have no personal connections with anyone involved in this movie. An actress I know recommended the film to me, knowing my affinity for low-budget, single-location movies.
I am always intrigued to see how filmmakers execute a story in one location with a limited cast, and whether they can keep the audience engaged. This is a significant challenge, and I have a considerable amount of experience in this area. I produced a single-location film that was licensed as a Netflix Original in 2022, which reached the Top 10 in 60 countries within five days of release. That project was a collaboration with a first-time female writer-director and an almost entirely female cast. Our film received a 100% rating from critics and 85% from audiences on Rotten Tomatoes. So, I understand the process and execution of low-budget films intimately.
First, Kimberly-Sue Murray, who plays Trader, is an outstanding actress. I was thoroughly impressed by her performance-absolutely five-star! She was the glue that held the entire movie together. I'm surprised I haven't seen her in more projects. For aspiring actresses, this is the kind of film you want to be a part of, where the camera is focused on you throughout. It will either showcase your talent or expose your weaknesses. This is how you get noticed by other producers and directors.
Second, the cinematography was excellent! For a small-budget indie film, it was very well executed. In my opinion, Murray's acting, the cinematography, and the music were the elements that kept the movie compelling.
The only reason I'm giving the movie an 8 instead of a 10 is that the writing and directing could have been slightly better. I know how challenging it is to maintain audience engagement with just one character, and I think writer/director Corey Stanton did a decent job, but that's where the film fell a bit short for me. Perhaps an experienced producer by his side could have made the film tighter.
Additionally, besides producing, I have been a professional money manager and trader on Wall Street for 27 years. There were some inaccuracies and gaps in the depiction of how the market operates. Market manipulation happens, but SEC and FBI are usually all over this kind of situation quickly. Also, the opening sequence, it is not that easy to get someone to give you their credit card numbers, so for me, the opening part, needed more attention in the script. That part could have been better written. However, anyone interested in the trader's life will enjoy this movie. Overall, nice job Corey, great effort. I hope your investors saw a return on their investment. I enjoyed the film, and I appreciate you bringing Kimberly-Sue Murray's talent to my attention. By the way, I watched the film on Tubi.
