Not bad and it wasn't too far from being really, really good.
I love the first act. No rush, it gives us the right background of the main characters, the neighbourhood, and their difficulties and motivations. I also really like what it does in the third act. Violent, tie up loose ends, and close arcs with meaning. I have several issues with the second act.
Most of my problems in the second act revolve around the difficulty in varying something from the moment "the event" occurs and the excessive educational/doctrinal speeches that exist. When the main character does it in the beginning, it seems genuine, an act of rebellion, and affirmation, it makes sense. When several other supporting characters do it throughout the movie, in an even more obvious way, it becomes a bit too much. Not everyone in a neighbourhood behaves, thinks, and speaks in the same way, and it ends up sounding more like the writer's voice than the voices of those characters.
There are also some issues with the editing and sound, with some cuts and sound effects that seem for a straight-to-DVD release, but nothing too serious, because the director knows where he wants to go and does a very good job on his debut, with some interesting shots, and starting with the identity it gives to that community from the first act.
In terms of performances, I feel that there are weaknesses in some of the supporting cast, but Laya Hayes is fantastic. She was able to carry the whole film on her shoulders, with several behavioural and emotional nuances, and it's easy to predict a promising future career for her. A star, for sure.
Overall, a very interesting debut feature, filled with good ideas, bringing something new to the table and to the "Frankenstein concept", which could have been brilliant if it was more polished.
