Heightened

I streamed this movie mostly because I saw that it was filmed in Maine. It didn't feature Maine scenery or people much but I guess that's to be expected on a low budget. There was seashore and there was lobster so I'm good . As far as the story goes, I don't like to reveal any plotlines so I'll just say that everyone in this movie seemed like a hero or a villain and there was little or no in-between. The movie could have used a character or two that were more even-keeled and sensible, maybe like a kid brother who thrived by ignoring all the cacophony or something. We don't get a good sense of why everyone's still so annoyed with each other after all these years, seems like maybe they could have called a truce by now, both main characters are well into adulthood. Another annoyance for me was that only one character had a Maine accent. It was an authentic one (for a change) but it was the only one. I don't like when a movie has a bunch of "ayuhs" thrown in just for good measure, but this was kind of the opposite. And one plot issue that I will mention is towards the end of the film, when the character Mitch gives a little speech about things that have been going on... I have no idea how he would know about them happening since he was not around when they happened. (Did someone tell him? Who knows?)

I did enjoy that the movie had a bunch of little comic bits scattered about that needed a fairly sharp eye to spot, in fact I watched the movie twice to see if I had missed any of the little quirky bits. All in all the acting was fine, the production seemed very professional for an indie film shot on a (probably) shoestring budget, and I found this movie rather enjoyable and easy to watch. I came away from it though, wondering if the main character would ever be able to find happiness, because other than blaming everyone else, she really didn't seem to be trying very hard.

Think4Yourself thinks... (1 star). I couldn't make it 20 minutes through this dreck. We're supposed to believe that the sound of a pencil on paper sends the main character running from a room, yet she can ride around in an automobile through traffic noise without a problem. We are treated to 5 examples of her irritation where she puts a microphone directly on the offending sound so we can "feel" her pain. It worked. I felt it and got the bejeezus out of there.

The lead wants to distance herself from her parents, but through some plot twist we are never shown, ends up living with them. It is silly and contrived nonsense not worthy of this century. We are surrounded with good writing and inventive storytellers in so many movies and TV shows today; maybe the producer should have hired a competent writer to build the script, a talented director to organize the movie, and some actual actors to play the roles. This just feels like a vanity project that your parents paid to produce so they could claim you were a productive citizen.

This is a lighthearted journey through the mental health of the two main characters. The film does a great job of showcasing how unique each of our mental hurdles are and how anxiety can present itself in a million different ways. Heightened doesn't so much tackle these issues as much as it asks them to dance, takes them by the hand and whispers "we're going to get through this together." All in all I found this much more enthralling than whatever the latest Bryce Dallas Howard dinosaur vehicle Hollywood is churning out. Just a small town, some eclectic characters, and an antagonist that we all have in the back of our head make this a film I plan to return to again when the panic starts to set in.

... Sara can't write....

... Sara can't direct...

... Sara can't act ....

So, what's Sara to do? Make a movie of course.

This film is pretty dreadful. I mean... pulling a fire alarm results in court-mandated mental institution supervision??? Really??

It's dreadfully slow, all EXCEPTIONALLY "deadpan". None of the cast can act. Not one of them. It seriously felt like a film made by those on the spectrum, about those on the spectrum, for those on the spectrum. Not sure why anyone would actually be entertained by this.

Anyone contemplating watching this should just move on and avoid this film.