By David Dent
Grayson Ross (Anthony del Negro) is a New York artist struggling to leave behind thoughts of his cheating ex, so he decamps to his parents’ summer cabin, north of the City, where he can concentrate on creating his next pieces; thanks to constant pressure from his agent, Wendy (Scout Taylor-Compton). Grayson is talented (although judging by his creations the New York art world must have adjusted its focus since last I paid attention) but practically useless, so he rings the agency for a handyman to come and fix things up in the rather tired accommodation.
Out of nowhere appears Sawyer (Zachary Roozen), who’s all spanners and buffness; there’s an immediate spark between the two men. Before long Sawyer has doffed his overalls and is posing in the altogether for his portrait, the handyman being something of a muse to an creative suffering from artist’s block.
But there’s something creepy about his friend. Sawyer turns up again and again, unannounced; he doesn’t seem to know about dating apps and the hardware store he recommends in town closed fifteen years previously. While the chaps’ relationship deepens (but is never consummated – this is PG-13 stuff) and Grayson begins turning out artworks in a trance state, there’s clearly something more sinister at work, and Grayson is about to find out that he’s smack in the middle of it.
Director Tim Cruz’s directing CV is a mix of shorts, TV work and drama/thriller features; this looks like the first time he’s ventured into the world of the supernatural and oh boy does it show. This one’s an ‘everything but the kitchen sink and oh flip put the kitchen sink in too’ caper; it has a kind of eastern take on the supernatural elements (Cruz is Manillan which may explain things) where the spectres – when they appear – manifest in daylight; and are not spooky.
Narratively this is all over the place; I wouldn’t be surprised if this was one of those ‘troubled productions’ we hear about from time to time. Essentially it’s a two hander between del Negro and Roozen, and neither actor is that good in their roles that you’d want to spend getting on for two hours with them.
Bloody Flicks 