Incubated

Chianti Jeconiah writes and has the lead role in a powerful drama about mental illness triggered by, in this case, Coronavirus.

Sean, a trucker, hears early news of the Covid-19 outbreak spreading across the US. Isolated in his cab, his mind fears the worst but it soon becomes obvious more is at stake.

The first fifteen minutes feels as if it escalates quickly, but the pace is consistent throughout and rarely flags. Ghosts of the past resurface, and we see clearly how Sean's illness affects others, from shop workers to his wife and child.

Excellent acting by the leads; terrific use of the truck cab to shift from the outside world to a claustrophobic cell in an instant; effective switching between timelines. Some minor characters are placeholders - the woman who cared for Sean as a child, the social worker - but this is necessary to keep the focus on Sean and his immediate family.

Emotionally raw, I wonder if there was some personal experience behind the story. Ultimately, though, it matters not. In Sean, Jeconiah has created a convincing human being, and it was a blast to be along for the ride.