Coyote

In an age where we deal with an ongoing refugee crisis around the planet, films with massive budgets and marketing machines flood our screens with flashy glossy soulless 'entertainment'.

Coyote may lack the budget, but for what it lacks in money, it makes up in heart. The central relationship between the two girls is beautifully written and executed by the two leads. The world building around them, especially the first half, almost makes you forget this is a super Indy film!

For the past few years, I have become increasingly concerned about the lack of quality cinema. It is clear this director is a lover of the medium. He has heart, and asks the audience to think about the world in which we live. Not escape it for entertainments sake. This vocational approach to the work is shining through in every frame. And when there is a moment that makes the movie seem like it could have done with a few more bucks, it just makes me even more excited to see what the future for Dustin holds as he builds his career. What a triumphant start!

I would urge anyone to make up their own mind, you can't do that by reading reviews. Watch the film!

Coyote is a contemporary sci-fi story that deals with themes of class power conflicts, immigration at great danger for a better life, and the backward steps our world appears to be taking when it comes to LGBTQ rights. It is an important and profound commentary wrapped in an exciting and gripping drama.

The film's visuals are rich and evocative, from a gritty Eastern European slum to a lavish English countryside manor, to some mysterious seaside location. The acting, lead by Therica Wilson-Reed of Netflix's The Witcher series, is excellent, and the editing is tight and moves the film along at high pace. Together, all these strengths pulled me in and kept me almost literally on the edge of my seat till the surprising conclusion. (I'm pretty sure I was gripping the couch at times!)

Finally, the main characters are compelling, and I cared about them right away and rooted for them to find a way through a dark and treacherous (though lavish at times) landscape. I'm trying to write a review that doesn't have spoilers, so I'll say this: Watch Coyote, and If you're on the fence about it, just view the trailer and you'll see what I mean!

2 lovers are separated and try hard to get back together using an underground trafficking ring that uses teleportation. Not the most exciting of storyline, but it's Sci-Fi, my favourite genre.

But I quickly realise from the opening screens that it's distributed by Gravitas Venturas, the champions of independent cinema. I'm certain that I once watched a film that was distributed by GV and actually enjoyed it, but it's a while go now and I can't recall the film.

As expected, terrible music, terrible acting, average sets, terrible acting, sometimes confusing and boring dialogue, and did I mention terrible acting?

I strongly believe that it is indeed possible to review a film without watching it to it's end. You would not read 330 pages of a 350 page book and then rave about the book after the last 20 pages? A film is a linear story and it has to engage you along the way otherwise the surprise or whatever the final scenes are, are based on a non enjoyable journey to get there.

So it was with Coyote, which did not engage me in any way even for a minute, so I turned it off and consigned it to the 'rubbish' category.

Stumbled upon Coyote while attending Romford film festival and it quickly became a highlight of the day.

Interesting plot which was refreshing compared to current films being released, strong performance from the lead with great direction from Dustin Murphy.

Cinematography and art direction is impressive and they pull of the dystopian vibe and look which is sometimes difficult to do on budgets of this size.

Would definitely recommend and looking forward to the film being released in the UK on streaming platforms.

I look forward to seeing future projects from these collaborators and artists.

Watched as part of the Romford Film Festival.

Great example of a smaller film playing to its strengths. After a compelling opening sequence, the story is largely contained to a single location. But it's a great one at that. The grand scale of the house compliments the underlying story themes of class and status well.

As with all good sci-fi, the central story feels lifted from todays news, albeit with a dystopian lens that gives it a genre twist.

Therica Wilson-Reed does a good job of holding focus in an ensemble of female leading roles, balancing strength and vulnerability.

An intriguing script that works around the classic investigation, 'all is not what it seems,' plot thread kept me second guessing exactly where it was going.

All in all I think this is a really thought provoking debut effort from Dustin Curtis Murphy and I'd be interested to see what comes next.