Medias Res

As someone who has made a few short films myself, I was surprised to learn how small the budget for this film was - because it does not show. Sure, there are a few budgetary workarounds (i.e., cutting away at a gunshot instead of paying for expensive squib effects) and a few sound issues that a higher budget might have helped resolve, but overall, this looks like more than a $10,000 film. The acting is pretty solid throughout and the story has fun twists and turns to keep you engaged. It would be interesting to see what this production team could do with a little more money and a little more time.

Medias Res tells the story of Dave Meeks, a down on his luck salesman (some of the best early scenes involve him selling junk from the trunk of his car, and Dave's roommate/literal partner in crime Joe. What starts as some small hustles to make ends meet ends in betrayal and blood as Dave and Joe find themselves in the middle (in medias res, look at that!) of a drug-related kidnapping. As they peel back layer and layer of this story, they spiral closer to danger and death!

The story rests on the performances of its leads - Mike Delaney (also co-writer), Joseph Mason, and Sarah Coykendall. Delaney gives an especially earnest performance as the sappy, hapless Meeks. Mason is street tough when he needs to be, but also shows considerable vulnerability. And Coykendall excels as the siren who leads Meeks further and further into the criminal underworld.

Medias Res is funny, smart, intriguing, and a compelling piece of indie cinema. The production values are top notch and there are some really creative directorial choices (a grainy, washed out freeze frame was a particular favorite). Definitely give this movie a shot!

Being in the wrong place at the wrong time can change the rest of your life. This film takes you on this type of dark journey. A crime-drama/thriller on the surface and a subtle comedy beneath the surface, this nicely paced film continues to surprise all the way until it's unpredictable conclusion. The two leads have terrific chemistry and their entertaining performances kept me glued till the very end. Well done to every one involved.

I knew the stars of Medias Res from the Splathouse podcast, so when I had a chance to see it I jumped on it. What I found was a true indie film, made with passion and talent. The filmmakers stretch the meager budget to craft a compelling neo-noir anchored by a sympathetic performance from co-writer/producer Mike Delaney.

What impressed me more than the performances though was the way director Edwin Fernando Gonzalez, acting as his own cinematographer, creates a fully realized yet hypnotically unreal world. The colors alone make this movie worth seeing. Gonzalez clearly understands color in the way that Mann, Hooper and Argento do. Movies with budgets 100 times bigger than this look worse.

Make no mistake, Medias Res is a true indie, and as such is a bit rough around the edges. But if you know that going in, and appreciate true indie cinema, this film will not disappoint you. Support filmmakers like Delaney and Gonzalez and see this as soon as you have a chance.

Its about living, friendship, struggle, and escapism. written with wit and charm, we're treated to an entertaining story that never settles into a single mood but never overwhelms. its a journey with an unexpected pairing of friends whose great chemistry vibes through the screen. recommended.