A Trip Elsewhere

The first thing that stood out about A Trip Elsewhere was the cinematography. I'm personally very finicky when it comes to the visuals of a film and the striking images from this movie put my mind at ease immediately. I appreciated how interactive the sound design was - the production team took things a step further to really help with the immersion into the story world. Technicalities aside, the film was quite interesting and the subject matter was fresh. Four strangers coming together to have their first LSD experience sounds like a synopsis that I haven't encountered before. Maybe that's why, but the film in itself ended up being entertaining to watch as a result. I also really enjoyed the different timelines/scenarios during their trip that gave us more insight and depth into the characters. Overall, A Trip Elsewhere was a solid watch and a must-see if you're into indie films.

A Covid lockdown movie about the collective experience of being unable to live life normally, no social interactions, the loneliness of it all, and the mental health struggles that followed, as an entire generation of young adults were confined to their apartments. Then, there are the teens, locked in with their parents for months, this generation will always be marked by long-term isolation.

With themes like grief, redemption, mental health, self-reflection, and solace, we follow four characters: three friends and their neighbor, who accidentally takes too much LSD, hoping to escape reality for a few hours. This sends them into a shared psychedelic realm, where they must confront their fears and find redemption before returning to objective reality.

With all the ongoing research at institutions like Johns Hopkins, Imperial College London, Berkeley, and Harvard University into psychedelics like psilocybin, LSD, and MDMA for treating anxiety, depression, PTSD, and trauma, the film raises some intriguing questions, especially regarding the current mental health treatment system. This field of science has seen little advancement since the 1980s with the development of SSRIs, a class of antidepressants that have shown limited success, working only for a small percentage of patients. Ironically, these drugs are likely more harmful than substances like LSD.

Psychedelic experiences can be profound, helping individuals come to terms with their trauma and thought patterns by breaking down rigid neural networks that contribute to negative, repetitive thinking, patterns often associated with depression. These substances may help people escape unhealthy self-referential thinking, obsessive thoughts, and rumination, which are common in depression and anxiety. The experience can also enable people to view their thoughts and emotions from a new, less judgmental perspective. As they confront and understand their negative patterns instead of avoiding or suppressing them, they may find better mental health. Many also report altered perceptions of time, self, and the world around them, which can help provide clarity and a fresh outlook, allowing them to break free from loops of negative thinking.

For an indie film with a very low budget, the filmmakers effectively capture the psychedelic experience through the use of colours, effects, moving patterns, distortions, and synesthesia, showing things growing in size, morphing, or transforming into different objects. For example, a clock turns into liquid, or a person's face changes.

The cast delivers strong performances, the cinematography is nice, and the use of sound and editing is interesting. The score and soundtrack are also well-suited to the film's tone. Overall, I'm very impressed with Director J. R. Sawyers. It's fun, creative, and highly entertaining, with some stunning visuals.

So, why haven't you heard about this movie? Because in indie cinema, it doesn't matter how good your film is if you can't sell it at a festival or secure a distributor.

Great movie! Nice balance of drama and comedy. The film follows the journey of four people who accidentally overdose on LSD in the midst of the pandemic in an attempt to escape that reality. The performances and the visuals are outstanding. The actors all display a wide range of emotions in dealing with their individual experiences. The film also captures some of the stresses, the isolation, and the myriad of mental issues that we all had to deal with in 2020. In short, this film is dramatic, suspenseful, and funny. I look forward to seeing it again and to whatever comes next from this director.

Me likes the psychedelic vibes I got from A Trip Elsewhere. Small and tiny budget, but cool movie about four people who take psychedelics. It's full of wild colors, trippy scenes, and weird moments that are kind of creepy but also interesting. The characters go on crazy journeys inside their minds, and even though it's confusing sometimes, it makes you think about how people deal with pain and memories. F you like trippy scenes that makes you feel things, you'll probably like it. Its also pertinent to these times where anxiety and mental health is a big issue for everyone. Hope it eventually finds an audience.

A Trip Elsewhere" is a unique exploration of isolation, healing, and connection, set during the COVID-19 pandemic. The film's premise-four strangers embarking on a shared psychedelic dream after taking LSD-delves into the profound psychological and emotional possibilities of finding redemption through surreal experiences. Director J. R. Sawyers skillfully blends humor and tension, encouraging viewers to question the boundaries between reality and dreams, and between individual and collective experiences.

Andrea Geones stands out with her powerful portrayal of Sorina Hart, capturing the character's inner turmoil with depth and authenticity. The film's visual effects are equally impressive, amplifying the otherworldly nature of the shared dreamscape. The writing and direction by Sawyers are remarkable, effectively creating a film that is both unsettling and enlightening.

Having seen the film at the Love & Hope International Film Festival in Barcelona, I was particularly impressed by the audience's reaction. The film received an overwhelmingly positive response, highlighting its ability to resonate with viewers on multiple levels. The blend of visual artistry, engaging performances, and thoughtful storytelling made it a standout at the festival.