Tonic

It reminded me of Good Times (possibly mixed with some Charles Bukowski) while also remaining unique as well as entertaining through and through. I found it darkly humorous in a refreshing way. I'm not sure if it was the writer / director's intent (the same person), but it manages to satirize the human condition (my interpretation) without being self-indulgent about it. It's nice to watch a film that was made for more than the sake of the "bottom line." Unlike most movies, I don't feel like it didn't waste my time.

I look forward to seeing more work from Derek Presley in the (hopefully near) future.

Billy follows the harrowing journey of a struggling piano player trying to care for his terminally ill sister, Lori. What unfolds is a dark, emotionally charged exploration of how far someone will go to pay off a debt when life has pushed them to the edge.

The lead performance is outstanding-raw, vulnerable, and utterly compelling. Billy's descent into desperation is portrayed with nuance and intensity, and the film doesn't shy away from asking difficult questions about morality, sacrifice, and identity.

In an era where many films feel formulaic, Billy dares to be different. It brings a unique cinematic tone and vision that sets it apart. Gritty, creative, and deeply human, this is a film that lingers.

Kudos to the entire team for delivering something so original. The script is sharp, the direction confident, and the storytelling refreshingly bold.

What a great indie film! I felt like I was watching a John Cassavetes film, it was so good. It's a story of the inner struggle of a man trying to make his way in a world where things seem to be against him at every turn. The twists and turns that take him thru a very long night are at times drama and at times comedic. The cast is spot on, especially Billy, the piano playing central character. The folks he interacts with during the film are all memorable in there own way.

This film is complete departure from what is being churned out by the big studios, and offers something unique to the viewer. Highly recommend!

Very believable film about how bad decisions lead to worse ones. Intelligent writing and outstanding acting. Billy Blair as a down on his luck pianist struggling for survival and finding himself faced with difficult decisions is really terrific. The entire cast is first rate. It is very entertaining and a movie you'll be thinking of long after the credits roll. You'll be wondering to yourself what type of pressure would it take to make you commit the unthinkable act. Also, the colors of the film, from the dark insides of jazz clubs to the morning sun were just great and really helped make a person feel the atmosphere it was portraying. Great job.

I've been watching movies since the first time went to the movies with my dad watching Richard Donner's Superman to The Black Whole to Star Wars A New Hope and on and I fell in love with cinema ever since then. I like to remain neutral and judge what I'm watching on what it's trying convey as well as how it makes me feel. If I get lost in what I'm watching for a second than it's off to a great start. Was introduced to this movie Tonic through social media and I'd didn't disappoint. I won't give anything away because I want others to form their own emotional connection to the story and the characters but for me it was an intense ride that made me feel like I was right there with the main character experiencing his ups and down and constant turmoil of how life is a funny and chaotic dance. This has humor at the right parts that kept it from being too intense but would then shock you with something unexpected around the corner. The subtle facial expressions as well as the intense eyes of the main character played by a very talented and underrated actor Billy Blair could tell a story by itself but was just icing on the cake. This movie is an instant cult classic and makes me very excited about more projects to come from the director Derek Presley and gifted actor Billy Blair and others. Great job on this project and making movies exciting again.