Antebody

Antebody is a student film...but it sure doesn't look like one. Recent USC Film School graduate James P. Gleason has put together a smart little short film. It's the story of a body found floating in the LA river. The police identify the body and make the trip out to the widow's home to break the bad news. I can't go too much further without spoiling some of the fun. Let's just say that this mystery makes a couple of strange turns.

Mr. Gleason makes a beautifully shot, very professional-looking film on a shoestring budget. Well-crafted and intelligent, he gets wonderful performances from actors Henry LeBlanc and Kristin Carey. Mr. Gleason knows how to tell a story with skill and wit. Let's hope he gets a chance to make a full-length version of this story.

I saw Antebody at the Eerie Horror Fest in Erie, Pa. I was immediately impressed with the level of production value and the mastery of cinematic technique. I think the story was solid and by the end was genuinely invested in the characters - the true test of a short work. The story was done an incredible disservice however buy not being fully explored. The story had a fantastic beginning - the first sequence was truly breathtaking, masterfully conceived and shot. The middle kept the story alive, and kept the viewer intrigued. There was no end. And in this I don't mean in the same style made popular by Chris Carter with the X-Files in which there is resolution without complete resolution. I mean there simply was no closure. No resolution. A good piece, well shot, with committed actors and well choreographed camera work was completely undercut by the fact that, at end credits, the viewer was left with the feeling "I sat through that. For what? For what?" The main goal of a short film is to showcase the talents of the director, mastery of craft, etc. At this, James Gleason succeeds.

If I had the money I would hire James Gleason to turn Antebody into a feature. I would be intrigued to see where he would take it. I'm sure the experience would be enjoyable and well-worth the ride.

The acting left a little to be desired but was more on-mark than in most short works. Henry LeBlanc delivered a performance that perhaps could have been a little better managed but was entirely passable. I would rehire him to play Martin Ambro were the film to get expanded. And Kristin Carey was very good.

All things being equal I was surprised by the quality of Antebody and surprised by the lack of follow-through. I would be very interested to see further work by James Gleason.