Two men (Dan Berkey & Matt Gill) sit by the water, enjoying their time fishing. As they sit, hoping to get a bite or two, they discuss the potential of using a Dead Man’s Lure. Will it bring bad luck? Will it help them catch a few fish? And as they discuss, they wonder about the legacy that they will leave behind. This existential fishing trip has so much meaning–and the two men will learn more than they had ever anticipated.
The premise of Dead Man’s Lure became abundantly clear before the film even really got started. I’m not upset that things played out this way, or that the film struggled to hide its purpose–but a little bit of mystery could have gone a long way. Providing viewers with the ending of the film before they become invested is a good way to turn them away, to cause them to lose interest. Honestly, I believe the reason that this revelation doesn’t drown Dead Man’s Lure in the opening seconds is because the film is so short. Keeping the film quick and easy sort of allows any shortcomings to be overlooked long enough to finish the film.
It’s ultimately the message present in Dead Man’s Lure that keeps viewers around, however. What Writers Dylan Rizzo and Abyn Reabe are able to create in such a short amount of time is impressive–and the lasting effect of what the characters on screen tell us is massive. The idea of Dead Man’s Lure is to discuss our legacy and the things that we leave behind. Using a simple fishing lure, Rizzo and Reabe are able to create a connection with viewers, allow them to understand the importance of all that we do, and effectively express to them that even the smallest things in life can mean the most. To be able to develop this much meaning at all is a feat, but to do that in just five minutes is incredibly impressive.
Something that short films must do is establish characters and allow them to form a bond with viewers. While the characters present in Dead Man’s Lure have meaning, and while they effectively drive the story forward, viewers aren’t given enough context to really appreciate them. When this happens, regardless of how meaningful the message is, Dead Man’s Lure runs the risk of failing. If the people telling me a story, presenting to me a series of valid points don’t mean anything to me, then it’s hard to accept the things they tell me. Fortunately for Rizzo and Reabe the message is so incredibly sound, there’s no disputing it and there’s not enough time for the characters to turn viewers off to it. These characters effectively exist throughout the course of Dead Man’s Lure, but they serve little purpose.
With the exception of the message that the writers create, Dead Man’s Lure needs a lot of work. It struggles to reach viewers through the characters and it’s incapable of keeping the entire plot hidden for more than mere seconds. With that being said, however, it’s clear that Reabe and Rizzo have promise, and that their ability to write, if fine tuned, will lead them in the direction of success. They have work to do, but there’s a light at the end of the tunnel.
Directed by Abyn Reabe.
Written by Dylan Rizzo, & Abyn Reabe.
Starring Dan Berkey & Matt Gill.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐½/10
Commentaires