By David Dent
A $3,500 budgeted micro murder drama featuring a tiny cast set in a Florida bungalow doesn’t promise much. But Cameron Francis’s two (ish) hander surprises with some deft wit and narrative rug pulls.
Anti-depressant chugging Madison (Tiana Akers) hasn’t picked the best day to patch things up with her best friend Anna (Katherine Lozon). It’s their mutual and late friend Nadine’s birthday, and Maddie is harbouring a lot of guilt about her death (an accident at the beach while Nadine was drunk).
Arriving at Anna’s, Maddie’s pills (she’s taken more than usual) and a shared bottle of wine have a rather disorienting effect. Things aren’t improved by the fact that Anna has found out that Maddie and her husband Roman (Cory Stark) had an illicit lunch appointment; Roman has since argued with Anna and left on an extended fishing trip.
Anna and Madison’s friendship goes back to University, and there’s clearly some low level aspirational issues on the part of the former. But any reconciliation is marred by news that Anna is now pregnant, some problems with lunch necessitating a takeout, and Maddie’s increasing strungoutness, including some rather disturbing visions.
With such a small cast it ain’t difficult to work out what’s happening, but it’s a fun ride and Francis handles the darkness of his comedy/drama well, setting it anonymously on an estate of identikit tract housing, ensuring that attention is focused on the two friends as their lives – and minds – unravel. Good fun.
Bloody Flicks 