The Adept

...adept, that is, on all counts. Production value, script, direction, camerawork, lighting, etc., and two fine actors all meld into one unified teaser short. It's a shame it doesn't appear to have generated a series or a film. Adam "FTL" Stern deserves a crack at a feature, that's certain. Recommended.

For such a short film (only 9 minutes) The Adept has quite the impact. This is a production that exudes quality right the way through from the acting to the writing. Also, a special nod of approval has to go to the visual FX, which are especially good for a film of this length. The film contains 2 actors that are on screen for almost the entire duration- Adam Greydon Reid (as Ben) and Jennifer Spence (as Maddy). Given the film is so short, they both do a great job convincing us that they are a couple. Discussions about work and chores like washing the dishes set the scene for what happens next... the magic. Ben takes to his new powers with aplomb, gradually growing more and more confident- and by the end of the 9 minutes he is able to do some pretty remarkable things! Like many a good short film, it ends on a cliff-hanger. I can guarantee that you will be begging to know what happens next. All we need know is a sequel! The Adept 2 anyone?

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!!

A great short Sci. Fi. Fascinating more than beautiful. Impressive for the performances and smart use of FX. A card trick ending in unique adventure. A couple. And a seductive grow up of powers. All, at first sigh, so natural. Result - a profound special film, giving ordinaries aspect of cohabitation, dialogues about everyday thing and a great portrait of magic escaping from a scientific experiment. Short, a fine precise work.

I suppose I should accept that many of these short films don't bother to give us a result. A couple of researchers begin to tap into some sort of power that comes as they work on a type of quantum theory. Soon they are levitating things, making cards stop in mid-air. But there's a price to be paid. Unfortunately, there will be no sequel, and again the writers left us hanging.