My Brother Jack

My Brother Jack is an awesome film about the effects that a traumatic experience can have on people in different ways. It's so refreshing to see a film with such talent and intentionality in front of and behind the camera. In particular, I thought the writing and direction from Stephen Dest elevated the film greatly, and his New Haven roots added a level of realism that could not have been achieved by a director not familiar with the area. The juxtaposition of the way the two brothers have dealt with their tragedy is interesting and sets up a thrilling story. I would highly recommend this film to anyone!

My Brother Jack is a powerful indie film that blends psychological suspense with raw emotional depth. Written and directed by Stephen Dest, the story follows two brothers, Jack and Vincent, who are haunted by the trauma of witnessing their parents' murder as children. When the man convicted of the crime is released from prison and later found dead, old wounds reopen and suspicion falls on Vincent, who struggles with mental illness.

What makes this film stand out is its honesty. Dest's script avoids clichés, opting instead for a slow-burning, character-driven narrative. The emotional weight carried by the two leads-especially in portraying brotherhood, guilt, and loyalty-feels genuine. Vincent's struggles with sleep paralysis and mental health are treated with empathy, not sensationalism.

Shot in New Haven, Connecticut, the city adds a gritty, grounded atmosphere that mirrors the characters' inner turmoil. The visuals and pacing work together to create a haunting tone, and the performances bring a quiet intensity to the screen.

My Brother Jack isn't just a mystery-it's a story about family, healing, and facing the past. It's a hidden gem in independent cinema that deserves more attention.

I randomly watched this film the other day and was pleasantly surprised. Sometimes independent films can get a little messy but this one seemed to come together well. The writing was very good and I loved the plot twist. Most of the scenes look like they were shot in the actual city of New Haven, Connecticut. The directing was great but I would have liked to see better cinematography in the movie. For me, these can always make or break great indie movies. Although not bad, it wasn't the greatest and I feel like it hurt the film a little. Overall, I would recommend giving it a watch.

I had the opportunity to go to the films cast/crew screening. I was very impressed with the film as a whole, and the story kept me thinking well after it ended. I liked how the music was specific to the movie, since it was all composed by Jonny Rodgers, who is originally from New Haven. I liked how that ties in with the "New Haven" approach to the film. I enjoyed how the story line came together at the end, and I thought it was a smart movie, unpredictable, well written and creative. I was especially blown away by Jon Thorndike's performance as Vincent, and how he could make such a difficult, complex roll look so easy. I liked how the look, feel, and tone of the film went perfectly with the storyline, and my family and I were even more impressed when we found out that the film was made for under 40k, which it much less than it seemed.

I so happened to stumble upon this film and decided to give it a go. I was drawn in to the story through the characters fairly quickly...particularly the two brothers. I thought Jon Thorndike and Malcolm Madera created enough tension and a secrecy between them and I felt like I really wanted to see some emotional relief for them. Just an aside, I noticed the "Found Art" that was used in this film and waited for the credits to learn who was behind it. I saw that it was actually a local New Haven artist by the name of Silas Finch. I subsequently made it a to see and learn more about his work. Kudos for using local New Haven talent n a film that was beautifully shot in New Haven Connecticut. I also enjoyed the performance of Thomas Francis Murphy as Arthur Wood. I felt that there were just enough subtle cues to peak the interest of his character which eventually lead to the significant involvement in this story.