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Complacent
USA 2012
produced by Corey Allen Jackson, Steven R. Monroe, Simon Johnson, Dean Alioto, Joe D. Jackson (executive), Clint Morris (associate) for Dustbowl Pictures, Indiesyndicate Productions
directed by Steven R. Monroe
starring Cerina Vincent, Kerri Green, Joey Kern, Keir O'Donnell, Elisa Donovan, Michael Worth, Christopher Showerman, Melanie Monroe, Adrienne Barbeau, Jan Munroe, Carson Durham, Tate Berney, Leif Gantvoort, Allie Smith, Dean Alioto, McLean McGown
written by Steven R. Monroe, music by Corey Allen Jackson
review by Mike Haberfelner
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Sisters Myah (Cerina Vincent) and Beth (Kerri Green) love each other
dearly - but couldn't be more different from one another: While Myah's
slightly chaotic, lives a moderately hippie lifestyle and has diffuse
plans of opening a gallery, Beth is the loving wife to Robert (Joey Kern),
perfect mother to Zack (Tate Berney), and puts all of her effort in her
white picket fence family life - so much so that when Myah asks her to
paint again or at least give her some of her old paintings - she was once
an aspiring artist - she comes up with excuse after excuse, but between
the lines, it becomes clear that Robert doesn't appreciate her artistic
aspirations. It's also that Robert and his and Beth's friends don't take
Myah for full and are quick to ridicule her and her new boyfriend Eugene
(Michael Worth), an artistic type like herself. And when she brings Eugene
for a dinner to her parents (Adrienne Bargeau, Jan Munroe), this dinner
ends in disaster, also because her mother is unable to even acknowledge
her vegetarian lifestyle. But not everything in Beth's white picket
fence life is quite as perfect as she wants it to seem to be, as Robert on
one hand by and large neglects her for work and playing golf, and sees her
more as a servant with benefits than a wife, and thus pretty much prevents
her from having hobbies of her own. And eventually, at a dinner at Myah's
when he gets into an argument with Eugene, Robert shows his violent side.
And from here on, Myah starts to be really worried about her sister. But
the real tragedy is happening with their friends Thomas (Keir O'Donnell)
and Jennifer (Elisa Donovan), whose attempts to keep up appearances only
leads to making things worse, way worse ... Now one can't deny
that Complacent takes its time to let its story unfold - which is
ultimately why it comes across as quite as compelling, as it gives its
story penty of room to grow without forcing any kind of message onto the
audience, presents us with characters and situations that are at least
relatable, and stays away from spectacle to keep things grounded. And a
subtle directorial effort and a strong ensemble make this really worth
your while.
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review © by Mike Haberfelner
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Robots and rats,
demons and potholes, cuddly toys and shopping mall Santas,
love and death and everything in between,
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a collection of short stories and mini-plays ranging from the horrific to the darkly humourous,
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Tales to Chill Your Bones to
the new anthology by Michael Haberfelner
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