User reviews

VOX and sound quality is patchy throughout. As it's a writer/director it's hard to decipher where the faults lie. Script isn't too bad, but speed and editing is slow. Actors are overacted, forced performances and stilted interactions. It's trying really hard to be True Detective but neither of the cop-duo have the screen pull or chemistry to pull it off. There is a thin backstory that attempts to craft a character for the main character, but it isn't 3D enough to pull the viewer in. There are some decent scripting moments but again it feels like the Director hasn't left the actors to develop authentic voices enough for themselves and they appear wooden and over choreographed and given lines to say in a very specific manner. The reviews written by users don't match the content.

I was just going to say that this film had a plain boring, poor plot with amateur/ham acting but then saw a large required number of characters, which is ludicrous for any film review, so I'll expand. The characters are thin and never expanded and, in some cases, even dumb. The shooting and film quality is cheap and nasty and even the colour is very poor, being faded/jaded and, whether intentionally or not, this just spoils the film and reeks of poor quality. I can truly not see a single redeeming feature in this and felt that I had wasted over an hour and a half of my life, which I will never get back. Not recommended in any way or form and simply to be avoided at all costs.

There is a plot that would have made an ok film but it's not the stunner that some reviews are suggesting. It's not that hard to predict who the culprit is. The secondary plot involving the main character is cliched and thin. The mediocre plot is the highlight though, the rest is just dreadful. The acting is amateurish and wooden. Lines are delivered without any animation so there's little interaction between the actors and no apparent rapport between any of the cast. There is no build up of tension and no surprises. The sound quality is poor, line delivery is mumbled at times and really should have been picked up on by the director. Scenes are minimalist - nothing wrong with that - but minimalist in this means uninspiring. The director has tried to be clever by throwing in a common theme, orange colour in a lot of scenes but even that doesn't really work because it's a bit too obvious. The result of the film overall is utterly disengaging.

Jaron Lockridge gets better with every project and that's saying a lot when all of his films are great independent work!

Cubic Zirconia is a brilliant, slow burn mystery thriller about a broken detective searching for a missing woman and her two children.

The performances were top notch, especially LT. Bobby Clark portrayed by Keith Johnson. Keith's performance was brilliant! There are so many little details to his performance that I catch on each watch. The entire cast and crew knocked it out of the park.

The twists and turns are sure to keep you guessing all the way until the final act and when the big reveal happens, hold on to your seats! This was a fantastic reveal!

As an independent filmmaker, Jaron Lockridge has mastered his craft and hit his stride! He is truly an example that truly great films can be made independently on a minimal budget. Everything about this film showcases superior use of minimal resources. I can honestly say that I am a huge fan of Jaron Lockridge's work and I can't wait to see what he does with his next film "Betray: Thirst!"

I highly recommend "Cubic Zirconia" to those who truly appreciate great indie filmmaking!

A movie that only has been rated 72 times when I watched it with extremely high reviews should have been a serious warning for me not to watch this movie but I was a bit lazy and didn't research it enough. Every single ten star review is a fake one, well they are real but not honest, just friends of writer/director Jaron Lockridge, that's all. Too bad there are so many liars on this planet but you get too learn to live with these kind of idiots. The movie starts with a tub of ice cream, clearly Häagen-Dazs, but blurred, so that alone is already a serious warning it's going to be very low budget. The worst was yet to come, the buildings or houses where they shot their scenes, clearly uninhabited homes which again shows the lack of professionalism. They could at least have decorated the homes a bit, just to make it look real, but no even that was too much work for them. Then you got the actors, all amateurs, some a bit better than others but all clearly amateurs. The story itself wasn't that bad although my wife and I solved the mystery halfway as it was too obvious. Because it was a low budget movie you start thinking like a low budget story and so you figure it out pretty fast. It had potential as a story, too bad all the rest looked like a B-movie, or even a lower letter of the alphabet.

Great movie!!! A story within a story you could say. It has multiple vibes throughout the movie. It gives you a detailed heartfelt/dramatic story that allows you to use your imagination. I believe it was delivered the way most people would be in favor for. Everyone did an amazing job acting out the scenes. A thriller that has some serious type scenes as well as some comical scenes to help break the drama. I would recommend everyone to give this movie a look. I believe everyone will appreciate the vision of the producer and the deliverance from the actors. Job well done and can't wait to see what is next.

From the gripping storyline to the powerful acting, this movie will keep you on the edge of your seat for all of the right reasons. Every cast member had his or her way of drawing you in to their character. Gigantic congratulations to every single person involved in making such an immersive film! Jaron Lockridge is multi-talented and his production, writing, and cinematography skills reflect this immensely. Special kudos to Keith Lamont Johnson, Kate Mobley, and Amy Taylor on their immaculate jobs of really making these characters come to life. I will definitely be watching this movie again and again.

You all have to give this movie a chance! I have to say I really enjoyed watching this movie. It has some tear jerker moments as well as come comedy here and there to lighten the mood. I don't do well with movies about children missing or being hurt but this was so well written and played that you don't have to worry about certain things you may not want to see. Great acting by everyone and the ending surprised me for sure. The suspense is defiantly there! I love the story within the story as well with Keith. The ending explaining the title was perfect. Great job everyone! Don't skip out on seeing this!

I was so impressed with the writing of the story. I love it when you see an event in the opening scene and then throughout the rest of the movie the writer unfolds what led up to out.

He also depicted in a very real way what can happen during an investigation involving multiple law enforcement agencies.

The plot twists or excellent! Not to give anything away, but just when you thought you knew what was about to happen, you get thrown a curve ball.

I thoroughly enjoyed this movie far more than I even thought I would. It was also a treat to get to hear from almost all the amazing actors in the film after the screening. Outstanding job, Jaron Lockridge!

Jaron Lockridge pulls you into the life of a disturbed detective on a heinous case.

Actor performance was impeccable. I got chills watching the emotional diversity throughout the film as each event unfolds. Realizations occur and will make you sit on the edge of your seat in anticipation of what will happen next.

A thriller like no other filled with a whirlwind of events that you don't see coming right at your face! This story will definitely tug at your very own emotional core, and you will ultimately appreciate why "Cubic Zirconia" is the perfect title to this movie.

You must see this brilliant film!

With a story that could be ripped from today's headlines, Jaron Lockridge weaves a masterful tale with gripping suspense and an unexpected twist. Heard the audience gasp at the revelation. Great performances all around help bring this story to life. Keith Johnson takes the reins and delivers a nuanced performance in the leading role. Kate Mobley plays off of Johnson's performance and plays the perfect reluctant partner. Great performances from newcomers Terry Giles and Amy Taylor as well. This movie is the second installment in what Lockridge calls "The Stix Universe," with the film The Stix telling the first chapter. We see a few characters making appearances in both films, and we should be seeing more of the same in future installments. Don't miss this one.

Jaron Lockridge has done it again!

Not only was the story line so clear....he brings so much attention to law enforcement and how they have lives that can be just as difficult as the next person.

To throw in a case on already a detective who is going through it, to just really pull on your heart and soul I believe his story telling was 100.

The actors were phenomenal.

Each characters performance was felt. This movie is a true build up. You completely think you have it and Jaron takes you on another turn. I believe the actors made the movie so authentic Kieth Johnson, Kate Mobley ,Kenon Walker,Jeff Haltom, Kenneth Farmer, Lavelle Mays, Secara Fuller, Terry Giles, Carter Nelms, Tony Hale III nailed it.

I do believe this was one of the best films Jaron has captured and told. I can't wait to see what else he has for this universe and for the world to see Cubic Zirconia.

Congratulations on an amazing suspenseful thriller that will leave the audience gasping.

Kudos to Jaron and Amber Lockridge for wowing us with a fabulous film! My 2 teenage daughters and I recently watched and all gave a resounding thumbs up. My 18-yo English major/ author proclaimed it a "Cool, fun murder mystery" and my 14 yo especially liked the plot and story. Although I tend to avoid horror and thrillers, I was pleasantly surprised to find myself equally drawn into the well-crafted story.

No spoilers, but the a-ha moment was so well-done that the audience simultaneously verbally echoed recognition across the theatre. The film balanced out the suspense with generous doses of humor to relieve tension just when needed, as in the chase scene with the murdered woman's boyfriend. The movie's mix of suspense, humor, action and romance give the film appeal to a wide audience. Those who like to go deeper will enjoy the subtle exploration of concepts like justice and natural depravity balanced out by grace.

The film boasts a number of well-developed characterizations with a solid acting ensemble led by standout Keith Johnson as the troubled officer initially assigned to the case and strong performances by the entire cast including Kate Mobley, Kenneth Farmer, Carter Nelms, Secara Fuller, Lavelle Mays, Amy Taylor, Pat Prentiss, Jeff Haltom and Terry Giles. The supporting characters and cameos were amazingly rich and well-developed as well.

Don't miss this masterfully told tale. The story within the story is especially touching if you have loved ones in law enforcement. I plan to watch again with family that missed it and seek out the rest of the Stix and Betray series.

I have to say this was quite possibly the best movie to date of producer Jaron Lockridge. The thought process behind the storyline was impeccable. There were so many twist and turns that kept you guessing and for it to be loosely based on a true story was even more impressive. The cast was amazing and really brought all these characters to life. Amy Taylor- as Kayla, for this to be her first ever movie; she killed it. Keith Johnson as detective Bobby Clark. He really brought it with this performance and really drew you into his story and background for this character. Jeff Galton as chew. Amazing!! Carter Nell's as Jeff Benton equally amazing. Kate Mobley as Tbi investigator Natalie Brim. Knocks it out of the park.

Loved the true crime aspect of the movie and storyline. Also there were some scenes with some comedic relief as well which I loved. Over all I would totally rate this a 10/10.

Another awesome product from the Stix Universe from the mind of Jaron Lockridge. "Cubic Zirconia" pulls you into the story immediately with a classic whodunnit theme that keeps the viewer guessing. If you are a fan of true crime mystery shows then this should without a doubt be on your watchlist! My understanding is that Jaron came up with the story for "Cubic Zirconia" based off of an actual case and really did an awesome job of creating a story that has you thinking you have your suspect then get hit with a few twists and turns headed to a riveting conclusion. Great cast, great directing with a compelling storyline..a definite must-see!

Another superbly directed film by Jaron Lockridge. The script is well constructed. The cinematography is once again astounding and plays a vital role in creating the tensions the story needs. The is especially noticable in the oner at the end of the film where the protagonist is chasing the perpetrator. The acting is top notch. Bobby Clarke is realistically brought to life by the superb Keith Johnson. Kate Mobley brings a nuanced performance that balances perfectly with Mr. Johnson. Jeff Haltom reprises his role as LT. Ralph Chew and brings another naturalistic performance that stands out amongst the supporting roles along with Kenon Walker. Everyone else in the cast delivered a strong believable performance in this thrill ride that really puts the pedal to the metal in the last 15 minutes after a slow burn investigation. This film is highly recommended.

I enjoyed every minute of this movie!! The producer did a great job of mixing the plots and stories. It kept you on the edge of your seat and kept your attention through the whole movie! It was full of suspense and a mix of emotions! There were twists and turns throughout and the settings were so real and made more true to life.

All of the actors brought their characters to life! Iappreciated getting to meet Keith Johnson,"Detective Bobby Clarke" in person at the screening! Thank you all for the great job making this awesome movie! Don't miss seeing this movie, you won't regret it! This is one I will definitely watch again!!

This has to be the most enjoyable crime drama I have ever encountered. The cast was just ON, and the flow magnificent! The chemistry between the lead characters was free and fun. The film throws you off track, and pulls you in, keeps you on the edge of your seat, then makes you fall off of it with laughter. Cubic Zirconia is a thrilling mystery, with aspects of comedy, and drama, and suspense. Kudos to the very hardworking Jaron Lockridge and all of the cast! This is definitely a blockbuster hit! So much fun! Do not miss out! This was so beautifully done, and I look forward to seeing it again!