Test

I caught this movie at the LA Shorts festival last night and loved it. They really created their own world. At times it's a bit too puzzling but it definitely leaves you thinking. My only confusion was the real meaning of the ending, although one of the actors had some funny stuff to say about that at the Q&A. I especially liked how shadowy and tight everything was, with really cool production design- it gave me the sense of a forgotten lonely or abandoned place that had been re-purposed for the test. I think if you like Terry Gilliam or Rod Serling's work you would definitely enjoy this short film. I was also really surprised to learn that the female lead was in "Tangerine," she is completely different in this movie. Overall it definitely draws you in and has a few very funny moments too.

I signed up to IMDb specifically to give a review of this film. That's how much I liked it. I got to see it at a festival recently and it is on a level of its own. (And I've been to more than a few fests in the past couple years.) Jay Lifton's TEST is awesome and unlike anything you've likely seen before – which is a feat in of itself. The story is essentially about a man who undergoes a mysterious test in a strange place. And it's hysterical. But what I really love about it is that you also could call it science-fiction, or horror, or even a love story of sorts. To me, that's the mark of a great film – and great filmmaking. It's totally un-classifiable. Both smart and silly, in the best of ways, I enjoyed every second of it. It makes me want to see what Mr. Lifton does next - with any luck, it will be a feature! If you need a reference, the closest thing I could think of comparing the film to is the work of Roy Andersson or Monty Python. I could not recommend this short any more. I'm hoping it will be online soon enough!