It's always tough watching and judging low-budget, independent films. You can tell that the people behind the cameras had a lot of heart and energy going into this film. Unfortunately, it's not enough here. Nicely shot and competently directed, it's the script and the performance of the lead actor that causes the film's shortcomings; and since both come directly from Kirk Harris, it's ultimately with him my problems lie.
The script, detailing the psychological deterioration of an ex-mental patient, is full of cliches: the loner, sympathetic yet brooding with barely-hidden psychosis; the other loner, another outcast from society who's trying to make friends; the gang-bangers/drug dealers/street urchins who harass the lead character; the delusional character who only the lead character can see, who continually spurs him on to commit acts of violence, which he eventually does, and then...the list goes on.
Kirk Harris is best performing this character when he plays him shy and introverted, as he is at the beginning of the film. I can actually believe that he is Charlie, which is the goal of any good method actor. But it's in the moments when Charlie begins to lose control, when the little smile cracks across his face or he tosses his head in disbelief that Charlie disappears and you can see Kirk Harris "acting". And once you see that, the illusion is destroyed, Charlie disappears and Kirk cannot bring him back.
I applaud the efforts of everyone involved. I think, however, that time and future films will help hone their crafts, resulting in better productions.
