Water Rites

Water Rites is a crowd-funded film, and it shows, but I enjoyed it nonetheless. There are moments where the film really connects, and others where it's pretty rough around the edges. Some of the editing and camera choices, for example, pulled me out of the experience. It's fair to assume the crew didn't always have the time or resources to fully realize their vision, and a few sections end up feeling disjointed or unfinished.

The film does, however, succeed in evoking the mood and atmosphere needed for this kind of story. One element that stood out was Katy Bentz's performance. While the lead plays more of an everyman, she gets to have a bit more range, and delivers some of the funniest lines and has some of the more dramatic moments. She brings a presence that gives certain scenes a texture, and I actually wish the director had leaned into her character more.

Overall, it's not a polished film, but it has a few memorable moments and a performance that adds a vitality to the project.