2021 NIGHTMARES FILM FESTIVAL REVIEW!
Four generations of individuals have gone mad, and each person on their thirtieth birthday. In addition to their collapsed psyches in common, they also have Emmy (Paige Henderson), a descendant. With her thirtieth birthday on the horizon and the inevitable mental breakdown prepared to follow, Emmy believes that she has a chance to end the curse and save her sanity. When she finds a man that she believes is responsible for this long-time curse she asks him to Save Me From Everything. As she travels to Ireland to meet this man and right the potential wrongs, life will only become more twisted than she could have ever imagined.
Save Me From Everything is intimate--intimate to the point of uncomfortability. Through Emmy’s travels around Ireland, the people she meets and the things she takes part in are vividly expressed through original and captivating dialogue. We learn about the people and the locations, but on a level so personal that viewers feel as if they are intruding. Discomfort quickly becomes a theme of Save Me From Everything and that theme transcends the entirety of the film as well as its viewers. As the discomfort grows and viewers dive deeper into the story of Emmy a darkness consumes them, and they know in the early going that they are in for a wild ride.
Darkness exists far beyond the tone of the film, as it lives in every nook and cranny of Save Me From Everything. Viewers feel as if they are trudging through the darkest depths of the human mind all while attempting to stay afloat. This is surely intentional, as the film relentlessly explores the human psyche with great vigor and intensity. As I was drawn into the seemingly endless abyss of Emmy and her cohorts’ minds, it felt impossible not to connect with all that was said. Idioms such as “sun is the best disinfectant” and “if you’re going to get hit by a car, put on a show” (this one I’m paraphrasing) shed light on the plights of the world and who we are as individuals. The film is ultimately insightful and ironically full of life as a result of the overarching themes and the intensely accurate dialogue.
Save Me From Everything conveys human emotion and train of thought as well as any Hollywood masterpiece. It effectively expresses, through its dialogue, the human ability to cope with trauma. However, the conveyance of these emotions and themes rest heavily on the shoulders of the two leads--Henderson and Brendan McCay. The two actors are robust in their attempt to bring their characters to life, and find immense success throughout the course of Save Me From Everything. Every word, facial expression, and utterance from either actor is believable and honest. They carry the weight of Save Me From Everything throughout its entirety, and their ability to shine so brightly in each and every moment, as well as their astounding chemistry, is mesmerizing.
The cinematography is unlike anything I’ve seen in a long time. It’s shaky, uneven, and unapologetic in its approach toward perfectly conveying Emmy’s struggles in Save Me From Everything. As the camera twists and contorts it becomes dizzying, which only invites viewers further into Emmy’s story.
The entirety of Save Me From Everything is beautifully done. The cinematography, writing, acting, and the depiction of each of the themes through each of the aforementioned aspects are incredibly well done and they invite viewers into the narrative from the opening moments. Save Me From Everything, through all of its twisted and demented glory is nothing short of a masterpiece, and sure to thrill all those who watch.
Directed by Ryan Lacen & Anthony Baldino.
Written by Ryan Lacen.
Starring Paige Henderson, Brendan McCay, Breffni Holahan, Kieran O’Reilly, Mary Murray, Gerry Cannon, etc.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐½/10
