Gary’s (Dan Berkey) wife has recently passed away, and he’s trying to find ways to cope with his grief. Naturally Gary decides to meet up with a hooker, Claudette, (Toni Belafonte), as he believes that this is the best avenue for healing himself. As the two get to talking they quickly realize that they have more in common than expected. Abraded is the story of finding solace in the most unlikely of places.
Abraded, in its entirety, is massively uncomfortable. From sneaking around attempting to procure a hooker for the night to dealing with the loss of a loved one, Abraded touches on a number of subjects that are guaranteed to provide a level of discomfort for viewers–and that’s exactly what the film needs, ultimately finding it success.
Writer-Director Mike Musikanto aims to project the emotions of the characters in the film onto his viewers, and he’s successful in doing so. From the opening moments, viewers are transported into this fictional world–one that is visceral, real, and incredibly welcoming. Musikanto manages to develop a story and a world that makes viewers feel both uncomfortable and welcome at the same time. While viewers are able to feel that harrowing discomfort that exists throughout Abraded, knowing that the two main characters, Gary and Claudette, are dealing with issues similar to what they would have experienced in the real world allows them to feel one with the narrative. Viewers are able to appreciate the tense nature of the film and feel like they can relate to the film in (almost) its entirety.
One of the primary ideas behind Abraded is that you can sometimes find solace in unlikely places–because a widower and a hooker don’t appear to have much in common. That unlikely bond is present in the relationship between Berkey and Belafonte as well. You look at these two actors, and aesthetically they appear to be from different walks of life. They don’t appear like they would have crossed paths in the past, but regardless of whether or not this is true, the two have found themselves working together. Firstly, they convey emotion and fill the shoes of their respective roles brilliantly–never missing a beat throughout Abraded. The actors, much like their characters, share a bond that allows them to shine brightly throughout the course of the film, and the two allow each and every bit of emotion to come through–ultimately reaching viewers in the intended way. The two possess a chemistry that allows them to feed off of one another, building on the intensity and the honesty of the film as a whole.
Again, much of Abraded is intended to make viewers uncomfortable. The setting and the cinematography play a pivotal role in this as well. The two leads are confined to a motel room during the majority of the film. While seemingly trapped in that motel room with nowhere to go, the cinematography creates a series of distressing angles that adds to the sense of claustrophobia that already exists. As the acting, writing, setting, and cinematography work together to create this film, viewers are exposed to something truly captivating.
Musikanto, with the help of his cast and crew, creates a world that is akin to the real world–full of emotion, discomfort, unfortunate realities, and grief. Trapped inside this motel room, viewers, alongside Gary and Claudette, feel suffocated, uncomfortable, and fearful; and Abraded invites viewers into the narrative as a result of all of this. Abraded is beautifully dark and heartbreaking, reminding viewers of the difficulties of the real world–and it appeals to viewers everywhere.
Written & Directed by Mike Musikanto.
Starring Dan Berkey, Toni Belafonte, Wendy Parman, Eddie Epps Jr., Michelle Silverstone, etc.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐½/10
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