Plight

What a great little indie film this was! I was able to catch this film when it came to our small town film festival and my wife and I were fortunate enough to be at a screening where the filmmakers were in attendance. Perhaps it was my naivety but I was astonished to hear how small their crew was and the budget of course was much smaller than it looked. There are so many excellent films out there and this one in particular stuck with me. It is an indie but you wouldn't know it by the quality of cinematography or the acting or even the storyline. The biggest indicator was that I didn't recognize any of the actors. However, I must say that they were very convincing. The music also felt very professional and the entire production felt top notch. Needless to say, my hat's off to the filmmakers for this fun little film that kept me guessing all the way through. A wonderful night out for me and the wife! We will certainly be back.

Biased review: fair warning.

I was the Key Grip for this film and we made it in St. Francis, KS in November of 2020. We had to isolate crew by department in respective houses, have catering delivered by the producer Heather from the local caterer, film with a small crew, small budget, cold weather, limited sun, etc. Etc..

And we pulled it off.

The film isn't trying to be more than it can be. From what anyone can gather by watching the trailer you know it's about revenge in a small town with a limited cast because the story resides between a small group of people in a small area of the country.

The acting is good, great at moments, and I think the story is straight forward enough you see the complexity behind an individual's motives, especially in the end.

Going into this film I had no idea what we were doing: no storyboards or overheads. When I was told that Wedigo would be the DP and learned he was the DP for Pandorum, I was thrilled. He's a trooper. For his age, to be standing on set as long as every other crew member, simplifying lighting to meet deadlines and working with the resources at hand I give this man all the credit and more that he deserves.

Where this film grabbed me was the first four minutes, via the editing and score. Terrell Lamont made a fantastic collection of music and Justin Lewis proved his chops once again with the editing by going in a non-linear manner without convoluting the story. I didn't get confused when watching the movie and the editing style allowed for enough visuals without dwelling on the imagery. You understand the story and that's important.

Kudos to the crew and cast for plowing through and making this little gem.

Plight is the kind of film that sneaks up on you. It starts slow, almost quietly, and then-before you know it-it's wrapped itself around your gut and won't let go.

The writing is sharp but never showy. The characters feel like real people, the kind you might pass on the street without realizing what they're carrying inside. That's the magic here-Plight doesn't rely on spectacle. It builds tension from emotion, from trauma, from the ugly choices people make when they're desperate.

Matthew J. Plumb gives an incredibly raw performance. He doesn't play a hero or a villain-just a father in pain. And Ada Pasternak is so grounded as Valentina, you forget she's acting. Their scenes together are filled with this simmering tension that had me glued to the screen.

It's not an easy watch, but it's an important one. There's so much going on under the surface-grief, class, justice, and how far someone's willing to go when the system fails them.

In a world full of noise, Plight is a reminder that sometimes the quietest films hit the hardest.

This film came to our town during our annual film festival and I must say it far exceeded my expectation.

My wife and I always try to make an effort to support the community festival that seems to grow bigger and bigger every year. Usually there are some cute, fun films that make you laugh but the slate they brought in this year was amazing with Plight at the top of the list for my wife and I.

The filmmakers were there afterwards answering questions. They made the trip out which we appreciated. To hear their process it made my fondness for the film rise even more. The film turned out to cost a fraction of what I would have guessed. It was thrilling from the first sequence to the last. Keeps you guessing, tear-jerks and entertains throughout. Sure, the film had a message but I appreciated that nothing seemed out of whack or forced. The story was very compelling and the performances nailed the mark. This was a very tight film about real people with real problems and real questions. Can't say the same for most of what's out there today.

5 stars 👍

Plight takes you on a journey full of unexpected twists and turns. It keeps you engaged the entire time. The visuals are compelling, the storyline is captivating and the performances are dynamic. It was refreshing to watch a film that kept me guessing and didn't feel formulaic. The music throughout felt appropriate for what we the audience should be feeling emotionally and was a great backdrop for the visuals. The editing felt very intentional with the pacing throughout and the story unfolded at just the right points. There was not any point in the movie that felt slow or dragged on unnecessarily. It was very well done and definitely worth the watch.