Buckle up! You are in for a harrowing, psychologically nuanced, brilliantly heart stopping, scream-inducing, raucous thrill ride. You may wonder who is in control as we follow our lead character Raya who keeps waking up in the woods not knowing how she got there. Living as the sole caregiver to her seriously ill husband in the woods of Big Bear, we witness Raya's resourceful attempts to solve the mystery of why she has no memory of leaving her own home in the dead of night, and awaking in the woods, and injured no less. Raya and her partner's relationship, played by gifted multi-hyphenate Writer/Director/Actor/Producer Paul Bickel is revealed in endearing flashbacks, where his disarming grin and the playfulness of their love feel relatable, organic and grounding - only to have the ground pulled out from under them, and us as audience, as we leap back to Raya's untenable present.
There is a white-knuckle paced intensity Bickel and team create, sharpened to palpitating heights by Jim Holdridge, Paul Bickel and David Ho's editing, making you grit your teeth in determination, almost as if your own intensity will help free Raya from this inexplicable, eerie cycle she's involuntarily repeating. From Tracie Thoms (also produces) and Eugene Byrd's masterful comic relief (equally touching, too) as counterpoint to Raya's pain, to pitch perfect performances by the entire ensemble, with crushingly impactful performance by Allysun Faso and evocative duo Carmen Serano and Terry Gingles, to the breathtaking fear composer David Hernandez startles us with to stunning effect throughout his score, to the flawless sound design by David Ho (also edits & produces), hauntingly beautiful cinematography (Paul Bickel & Damu Malick) of the grandeur of the lakelines, skylines, and elegant deer in their element in the woods, Bickel and Miles have made an unforgettable feature that will spark conversation, you don't want to miss this terrifying gem.
Most inedible of all, is the searingly raw, deeply poignant performance by Raya Miles, as she fights to free herself from this tortuous waking nightmare, even as she's equally devoted to caring for her ailing husband. You don't want to look away from Miles for even a fraction of a second - she's too riveting. Our Happy Place is a testament to what women endure in the quest to love: you don't want to miss this quest. Note this brassy, bold & resourceful filmmaking dynamo of Paul Bickel, Raya Miles, Tracie Thoms, & team, as they make their ongoing mark - you'll be glad (if haunted) you did!
