Roller Coaster

ROLLER COASTER was fun from start to finish. The juxtaposition of Emily's day with her younger self at an amusement park increased the feeling of everything being out of control. We've all had days like this, and this universal theme was expressed in such a way that we can all empathize with Emily's frenetic state.

Smart writing and directing choices led to a film that is just the right amount of over-the-top humor and no melodramatic dialog.

Hilariously expressive acting from Sarah Hawkins drives the fun throughout.

Technical excellence is on display throughout. The sound design adds to the action and never distracts.

A great film!

As I sat watching this short film, I was amazed at how well I could relate to everything Emily (Sarah Hawkins) was going through. We've all had days like the one Emily was having and to be able to relate and see that kind of day from a different perspective was refreshing. It's no surprise that the film has won many awards. Dadley Productions has a bright future!

I loved watching Bradley Hawkins' comedy short film Roller Coaster! The film is a hilarious take on the everything-goes-wrong Murphy's Law sort of day that can get the best of us all sometimes. Playing Emily, a character based largely on her own life experiences, Hawkins' daughter Sarah absolutely slays with her visual humor in a film nearly devoid of dialogue as she races around LA trying desperately not to let life's unexpected loops, hills and corkscrews get in the way of her dreams!

It really is such an impressively sharp, crisp, entertaining and believable film that it's hard to believe this is Hawkins' directorial debut! If you're at all a fan of cinema (which I would assume you are if you are reading this review) then this coaster ride is definitely worth taking!

I love a film that is tight...and this one is. The story moves with a perfect pace that keeps the viewer constantly wondering what will happen next. The cinematography is executed at an extremely high level. The evoking of a Chaplin/Hitchcock-esque style is fascinating. "Show me...don't tell me" is at the heart of the film. Young Sarah Hawkins is prefect for the role and brings an effervescence to the character that has you fully empathizing and rooting for her all the way. Obviously Bradley Hawkins is a directorial force to be reckoned with! I especially loved the juxtaposition of two very different clips that guide the film along while creating some added dynamic tension to the feel of the film. And the maraschino cherry on the sundae? A certain domestic animal eating your favorite fast food. I laughed my butt off! Congratulations to the entire cast and crew...well done.

I saw this recently, and its rawness and authenticity really stood out to me. It's easily to relate to, as we've all had days where what could go wrong, did. I liked the humor of it- at times, subtle, other times, over the top. Sarah Hawkins is wonderful as Emily, the main character. She seems very natural and I felt sympathy as her character fights her way through her day. Jim Casella's score also added a lot to the film, as it blended well with both the characters and the action of the story. This film reminded me of a Chaplin film or Buster Keaton. A lot of physicality as well as some pretty outrageous characters. It's a fun film to watch. What I liked most was the pacing and the music, which really gave a sense of what the audition process is like. The acting is spot on. I look forward to more work from this director.