The Darcys, Annie (Beth Metcalf) and her father Michael (Timothy J. Cox), have suffered a great loss. Returning home after burying their brother and son respectively, Annie tries the best she can to get her father to relax and open up. He’s obviously tense: Not only did he lose his son, but he also lost a comrade on the force. He won’t eat, and he only accepts a large glass of whiskey to drown his sorrows. A fight begins as the night carries on: Michael reveals to Annie that he’s called in a few favors and will be spearheading the investigation into his son’s killing.
At just under 20 minutes in length, There’s not a lot I can say about this film without giving the entire plot away. I can say that After is an intriguing character study. Fans of indie film may recognize Timothy J. Cox from any of the 146 small-budget films he’s worked on and starred in since 2006. His performance is pretty impressive, showing a realistic portrayal of a man driven to corruption by grief. While not quite as experienced as her co-star, Beth Metcalf is an award-winning actress and makeup artist with a couple dozen film and voice roles under her belt. Together, they put on a small-scale performance that many will find compelling.
Some may find their realistic style amateurish, but most viewers will understand the nature of this short film as a character study. This makes After a good choice for acting instructors seeking in-class materials that can be easily viewed and analyzed within a typical class period. This film would also make an excellent resource for film instructors interested in studying small-budget and small-cast films. Consider adding After to collections of short police stories and film series of indie short films. Highly Recommended.
Where does this title belong on public library shelves?
After belongs alongside other short films and police stories.
What kind of instructors could use this film?
Acting instructors and film instructors may be interested in this title for in-class analysis.