Proximity

Ryan Connolly's newest short film. After the funding for his other short film, Outsiders, fell through, Ryan co-wrote this and went into production shortly after.

Given the circumstances, and how long it took the crew to make this, this turned out REALLY well. A great concept, solid acting, good visual effects, and great cinematography as well. The only gripe I have with the film is the dialog, it really wasn't needed, but I understand why it's there. The audience was easily able to pick up the concept for the story, but the characters IN the story needed to know. Overall, a fantastic film.

So I came across this movie on YouTube and decided to check it out. I'm not sure what the story behind this film was, exactly. I am just assuming that it was a school project. Some of the cinematography was nice... but that's about it. It comes off as more of a concept for a feature film. It is not very effective in telling a good story or drawing you in and making you care. It's pretty empty and feels like it was probably written in less than 30 minutes. The shaky camera work and tight edits try to trick you into a sense of tension (rather ineffectively, I might add). At the end of the day, it basically serves as a demo for the D.P. and doesn't do many favors for the writers and/or director. Acting-wise, there is not much to say... literally. The actors basically run around grunting most of the time. As far as I know, this movie is only available on YouTube, which should serve as a good indication of what the quality would be. I am giving this 2 stars for the cinematography. If the makers of this were in high school, then I will cut it some slack. If not, well, keep practicing.

Four men are in the back of a van with bags over their heads. They are released in a field by two armed men. Two of the men run off in separate directions only for a device on their ankle to arm then trigger, blowing their leg in half and leaving them at the mercy of the two armed men to finish off. Seeing this, one of the two remaining men (Jake) tries to ensure that the same does not happen to him.

Proximity has what most short films needs, which is a great central idea which hooks you in very quickly. In this case it is the threat of death and the urgency of Jake that does it and although we do not understand the whys, the action still has good pace and keeps you involved. The cinematography is shaky but clear – it is a well used device to add urgency and excitement into the image but it is still an effective one and it mostly works here. In some ways the short and folded-in scenario helps the film be this way but on the other hand it would have been better with a bit more detail and finesse in the idea.

So, for example, with four men, this "game" will almost always end with people with no legs within 100m of the truck – it is just by chance that in Jake's case his partner isn't one of the ones that run off, and I guess this is the minority of cases. The same lack of finesse is at the end of the film too because, without any context, it really doesn't mean anything other than that the writers couldn't come up with something that worked better. It still is worth a look because it is pretty tight and engaging in the way it feels urgent and tightly paced, but it really did need a bit more detail and fine-tuning around the edges to make it work better.

'Proximity' is a short film, directed and produced by Ryan Connolly and co-written with Seth Worley. In it, an unknown organisation pits people against each other in a brutal game of cat and mouse.

This short was fantastic. It's visually stunning, and the dialogue is excellent. Todd Bruno and Josh Connolly both deliver strong performances as Jake and Luke, as do the other actors in their various roles.

When it comes down to it, what you've got here is a short film with a reasonably original plot that was written in only a couple of days. You've got fast paced action, you've got great acting performances from all involved, you've got visual dynamite and finally, you've a director who definitely deserves a shot at Hollywood.

If that summary above appeals to you, then watch this film, it's only 10 minutes out of your life, and you will not regret it.

8/10

• Joseph

Great concept, brilliantly executed, and great cast! Music and SFX are top notch and the fact that it was created on a shoestring budget makes this piece that much more inspiring and fun to watch. Ryan and Seth... definitely a team up worthy of anticipation for the next project!

The location and simplicity really make this an overall fantastic piece. The actors have great dynamic and really bring the tension to life. From beginning to end the build is masterfully done and the reveal at the end is well delivered. The visual effects are well done and not hokey or overdone by any means, the fact that you don't even realize that they are in the film at all says everything. Shaky-Cam has been beaten to death but in this context, fits the bill wonderfully and doesn't take away but actually adds to the tension and overall delivery of the film. A definite must see for any indie film makers and a great watch overall. A great film to not only watch but dissect and study, the motivation and direction is A+