When a traveling salesman (Anthony Rapp) arrives at the home of a dying man, he finds it impossible to contain a song that is brewing within him. Trouble is the story of this salesman as he attempts to woo what is possibly his most challenging customer to date.
The very first thing that stood out to me in Trouble was the lighting. As the salesman enters the man’s house for the first time and walks toward the camera, darkness surrounds him and a vibrant light sits over his shoulders, making him appear dark and silhouetted. Viewers can no longer see his face, and he’s consumed by a blinding darkness–something that was beautiful in the moment. However, as the film progresses and ultimately comes to a close, that particular scene bears so much weight and tells us so much about Trouble and about the character–one who remains nameless throughout.
I’m honestly floored by Rapp’s performance throughout Trouble, and as he breaks out into song and dance (something I typically can’t stand in films), I found myself becoming even more attached to him. I think at this point the world knows that Rapp has the ability to act, to sing, and to dance–but I personally have never seen him on his own, forced to command every inch of the screen and demand attention. Throughout Trouble, viewers often see him by himself–doing exactly what is asked of him. He’s powerful in his vocals, he’s smooth with his moves, and he possesses a brilliant combination of wit, cynicism, and passion that transcends the film (particularly during his musical number).
I think the idea of horror or thrills eventually occurring in Trouble always exists, and it seems that viewers are likely able to pick up on it early on in the film. However, I’m not entirely sure that the twist at the end of the film is ever truly expected. With Writer-Director Jacob Chase effectively transitioning from tone to tone, viewers are kept on their toes–never entirely sure of what is coming next.
Trouble goes out with a bang, shocking viewers and effectively wrapping up a film that exists in a series of different spaces in cinema. Trouble is fun, it’s captivating, and it’s one of the more entertaining musicals that I’ve ever seen. It deserves a seat at the table in the upcoming Academy Awards, and I hope that it gets the recognition that it deserves.
Written & Directed by Jacob Chase.
Starring Anthony Rapp, John Rubinstein, Gwen Hollander, Chase Castle, & Traci Swartz.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/10
