Remnants

The movie Remnants is one of those rare indie films that makes a big impression even though it was made on a little budget. The mood is immersive, raw, and tense from the very first frame. The caliber of the storyline, cinematography, and acting really astonished me. Jack Roberts, who directed, wrote, and performed in the movie, shows off his creative vision and range in an amazing way.

The idea behind the movie may sound familiar: a world after the end of the world, three survivors, and a search for refuge. But the way Remnants plays out is anything but normal. What makes it stand out is how deep it is emotionally and how it focuses on what it is to be human. There are a lot of exciting moments, but the story isn't only about surviving via action scenes. Instead, it looks at tragedy, grief, and the tenuous optimism that keeps individuals going even when everything is falling apart.

All of the performances were quite good. Jack Roberts does his part with intensity and inner strife without going too far. Ryan Wesen is another great actor. His portrayal of a man dealing with shame and responsibility gives the movie an emotional depth that stays with you long after the credits roll. Rebi Paganini's character is both strong and weak at the same time. The connection between the three of them seems real, and their relationship changes gradually as the tale goes on.

The movie looks great. The cinematography shows how gloomy the world is after the collapse without using a lot of CGI or over-the-top effects. The characters' physical and mental emptiness is well shown through the usage of forests, abandoned roads, and damaged houses. The way the movie is filmed is hauntingly beautiful; light and shadows are employed perfectly to match the mood of each scene. Because it looked so good, I had to convince myself that this wasn't a huge studio movie.

The soundtrack and sound design are also great. The movie uses both music and stillness well. There are times when a simple background sound, like a crackling fire or a rustling tree in the distance, makes things tenser than a booming soundtrack ever could. When music is employed, it's soft and melancholy, which makes the feeling stronger without being too much.

The rhythm of Remnants is also what makes it stand out. The movie never seems to be going too fast or too slowly. It takes time to develop its characters and their backstories, and the plot reveals bits and pieces of them as it goes along. There are times when you have to think about things quietly and times when you're on the edge of your seat. This back and forth keeps the audience interested and involved.

The writing is another big plus. There isn't much explanation, and the dialogue seems real. In a life-or-death situation, the characters talk like real people would. There are no speeches that have to be given or long talks that don't need to be. Every phrase and scene has a purpose.

I also like how the movie doesn't use cliches that are easy to guess. I thought I could foresee what would happen next in the tale, but it would always take a different turn. This wasn't done to surprise me; it was done to stay loyal to the characters and their arcs. The finale is fulfilling, emotional, and provides just the appropriate amount of room for thought.

I wish it were a little longer, but that's the only thing I would change. I wanted to spend more time with the characters and learn more about their pasts. That being said, the movie is just 1 hour and 35 minutes long, and it's extremely well cut with very little extra footage.

In general, Remnants is a strong indie film that is far better than it should be. It's interesting to look at, makes you think, and makes you feel. I can see why it won so many accolades at festivals. It really merits the praise. This movie is a must-see for fans of post-apocalyptic dramas that focus on human feeling rather than action.

Very highly recommended.

I actually really liked this movie. It's very focused on the importance of found family and how to survive the end of the world.

It really follows the genre well, and with the excellent camera work and the acting the cast did, you definitely get that edgy and suspenseful apocalypse feel.

I do wish there has been more horror elements, maybe more in depth explanation of how/why the apocalypse happened, but I still liked it.

The characters are interesting, the actors did an amazing job.

The cinematography is really well done. The beach scenes were really impressive.

All in all I enjoyed this movie, I would watch it again.

This was a great film, because it's raw, feels real and doesn't follow the zombie movie playbook. It jumps right into the story without explanation and, if you pay attention, you can learn everything you need to know about the universe along the way. I liked that, because it kept me on my feet and wanting to know more.

One thing I haven't seen mentioned is the cinematography. Some of the b-roll of the beach landscapes is gorgeous. The director lived on the beach and shot a lot of the b-roll once conditions were just right. Shot compositions in the whole were out of the box and at times daring.

You almost don't notice that the film was shot for less than $100k. Pretty impressive, considering.

I love zombie movies because even low-budget ones can sometimes be real gems. Unfortunately, "Remnants" isn't one of them. I decided to watch it because it won an award at a film festival, and the reviews were quite positive. While I don't regret watching it, the film didn't live up to my expectations.

The storyline in "Remnants" is pretty typical for a zombie movie. It follows three post-apocalyptic survivors as they head north in search of a safer place. However, most of the movie takes place in just one location. This was a bit boring and disappointing because it's a relatively safe place with plenty of supplies, and we barely see any zombies.

The cast is quite good, and their acting was solid. Still, I wished the movie had more action, as very little happens throughout the film. At one point, two colorful and unique side characters are introduced, but their roles are minimal. I was hoping for something interesting to develop between them and the main characters, but it didn't.

The biggest letdown was the ending, which felt abrupt and didn't make much sense. It was like the director ran out of time and had to wrap it up quickly. "Remnants" runs for 95 minutes, but I think another 5 or 10 minutes could have helped wrap up the story in a more meaningful way, especially since not much happened, and there wasn't a clear plot.

In the end, I gave it three stars, which I think is fair compared to other zombie movies out there.

I really liked the pace throughout the movie. The movie also succeeded in making me fall in love with the characters, the ending had me biting my nails! The zombies were not too realistic in my opinion though, like why were they getting in a fistfight with people? Shouldn't they try to bite them?

The humor between characters was great, they really did a good job with that. Great interactions, couldn't get enough of it. Really like that we get to dive in into the chracters past and find out who they really are, not what they try to seem like in front of their friends. Really enjoyed my Sunday night watching this.