This could have been compressed into a much shorter production. As such, it would have been a perfect match for much of the content presented in the DUST series of sci-fi shorts, for example.
However, at almost 2 hrs in length, this was more than just a bit too drawn out.
I get it, the director was hoping to get the audience thoroughly engaged with the two primary characters with the exceptionally long "character study" dialogue sequences and all that, but the end result was creating more impatience as the seemingly endless (and obvious) dialogue sequences just became evermore predictable, as was the "surprise" ending (which became more or less obvious half way through, or even sooner).
There is an interesting philosophical punchline, as it were, in the final minute or so of this production, but it seemed like a very long way around the barn to finally get there.
If anything, the general theme is faintly reminiscent of the "Humans" series, but in that production, there were vastly more interesting and unique characters, evolving scenarios, plots and subplots within subplots that could carry the general concept over multiple episodes, and did so exceedingly well.
In this production, it was very much a single stage set theatrical play production, put to film. Not that being "low budget" is necessarily a bad thing; many well crafted productions have been remarkably compelling with even less resources to work with.
But in this case, less would have definitely been more.
Heather Weeks, given what she had to work with, did a fine job delivering her character Evelyn. Taylor (Jack Hadrian) just didn't seem to exactly fit right as the purported artist character. Not faulting the actor here, maybe more of a casting mismatch.
In any case, it's not entirely a waste of time to watch this, but neither would I suggest a second viewing.
I'll go with five stars . . .
