-Written by Kyle Bain.
When a young, unassuming tourist (Michael Lazarus) enters a butcher shop to order lunch, he quickly finds himself in a unique position. With the butcher (Dan Berkey) adamant that he try new menu items, the tourist believes himself to be in danger. As he weighs his options, he realizes exactly what is next up on this strange menu: something Tender.
Tender opens (and closes) to the song “Where the Old Red River Flows” by Jimmie Davis–immediately setting the tone of the film. For anyone who knows that name of the song, it effectively tells the story ahead of time, foreshadowing the film’s conclusion. For the rest of us, the ones that don’t know this song off the top of their head, we get something slightly different, but equally blood curdling. The sound of the banjo forces viewers to think of those old-timey films, particularly ones having to do with the sketchy back roads of some small town in the deep south. Cinephiles have been trained to think a certain way when we hear these sounds, anticipating that something horrific will happen, and Tender is just more proof that this way of thinking is sound.
Bookended by a song that, again, helps to tell the story–Tender also includes two short anecdotes that, similarly, foreshadow what will happen to the young tourist by the film’s conclusion. As viewers hear the tales of torture and death, they are pulled closer and closer to this spiraling butcher, a man who is seemingly desperate for things to go his way for once. Every second of this film is preparing viewers for what will eventually transpire–and even though we are prepared, the visuals that play out through the credits are still able to shock viewers. Tender relies heavily on shock value, and it’s successful nearly every step of the way.
The reason those aforementioned anecdotes work so well is a result of Berkey’s performance. He commands each and every line, and he fills the screen with a vigor that works so well to convey both dread and horror. Tender, even with everything else that occurs throughout, rests heavily on the shoulders of Berkey.
In the final seconds of Tender, just before the credits begin to roll, the tourist bares his teeth–calling back to an earlier moment in the film (that I won’t reveal to avoid spoilers). This gesture is subtle, but it allows viewers to understand exactly what is to happen next. This is a small example of Writer-Director Wesley Chessa-Forman’s prowess, and his astute understanding of filmmaking–particularly in regard to the narrative. This understanding exists throughout the duration of Tender, and rarely does a moment pass in which viewers aren’t enthralled by this film.
Written & Directed by Wesley Chessa-Forman.
Starring Dan Berkey & Michael Lazarus.
8/10 = WORTH RENTING OR BUYING
