A man is hired for a job, because he’s the right person for the job. He can tell if a person deserves to die, and this Empath will let the hiring party know whether or not they’ve made the right decision.
Empath has so much potential, as it’s a story that’s entirely new to me, and it travels down a path that has the chance to really dive deep into emotion. However, with that being said, I’m not sure that Writer-Director Travis Sherwood effectively brings that emotion to life.
We dive right into the heart of the film when we see our protagonist (of sorts) crying, struggling with something–and we aren’t quite sure what. This moment allows viewers into just about the only emotion that exists in the film. I’m not sure if it’s the pacing, the disconnect between characters, or something else entirely, but Empath doesn’t see another emotional moment until the closing seconds (and it’s the same as the opening scene). With that, this opening scene might just be the most important of the entire production. I genuinely enjoy this part of the film, and the film’s lead does a wonderful job of conveying emotion here, reeling in viewers, and maybe giving them just enough to allow them to hang on for the remainder of the film.
While I’m not sure that the emotion ever develops how I had hoped, there is something about the narrative that really hits home. Again and again I see postings on social media in which the person posting begs their followers not to judge others, because we are never truly sure of what someone is going through. That rings true throughout Empath. Again, with the protagonist being forced to report back to the hiring party on whether or not the murdered deserved it, it makes me think back to all of those sayings about not being sure of what others are going through. Do we want to know, or would that be too much of a burden? I think we catch a glimpse of the right answer here, and with that we are forced to remind ourselves to be good to others.
This allegory of sorts may be a bit bleak at times, and there may be instances throughout Empath in which viewers struggle to remain present. However, the meaning behind the film, all that it teaches us (or at least has the ability to) is quite brilliant. Every time I think back to the film I enjoy it more and more. While there is certainly missed potential floating in space around Empath, it truly possesses so much meaning and purpose that is likely to reach its audience.
Written & Directed by Travis Sherwood.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/10
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