After a knight (Alexander Lincoln) escapes battle, he finds himself alone, exhausted, and confused about where to go next. He now finds himself at a fallen temple, where he must hide from the dangers that lurk on the outside. My Dreams Have Been Dark of Late, however, focuses on the dangers that lurk inside–and as the knight’s armor begins to betray him, he believes that he’s facing certain death.
No dialogue whatsoever; not a single line of dialogue is uttered throughout the course of My Dreams Have Been Dark of Late. The success of the film then hinges on the acting ability of Lincoln, the sole actor in the film. He has no one to supplement or support him, he has no one to feed off of, and he’s ultimately left all alone within the confines of the story to bring this thing to life. Through facial expressions, a very specific tone when he breathes heavily (often high-pitched and even feminine), and the development of sound using his armor, Lincoln is a star, capable of making something out of nothing–and he drives My Dreams Have Been Dark of Late forward with great passion and purpose. Lincoln is often forced to react to an inanimate object (his armor), almost as if that armor was a character. He effectively plays alongside that armor in a way that develops intensity and drama throughout the entirety of the film.
I’m incredibly intrigued by the set design. On one hand it appears that outside of this fallen temple is a wide-open space, one that goes on for miles. There’s a great big world just off screen, and while viewers never see it, it’s made clear that it exists. I like this about the film; I truly enjoy the fact that there is all this space that we are unable to see, and that My Dreams Have Been Dark of Late develops the set in this way–one where we are sort of forced to imagine what the rest of the world looks like in this situation. On the other hand, My Dreams Have Been Dark of Late challenges that aspect of the film by keeping us effectively locked up in a small, torn down place. The place in which we find the knight is sad and dejected–and, again, we are sort of confined to this place with him. A sense of claustrophobia exists here, and it provides us with a true sense of what he would be feeling throughout the film. The set plays a massive role in My Dreams Have Been Dark of Late, inviting viewers into the film, into the knight’s story, and allowing us to develop along with him.
While My Dreams Have Been Dark of Late is a science-fiction film, and viewers can sometimes feel a disconnect when it comes to films of that nature, this film does just the opposite. The story exists in a different time, in an unfamiliar place, and supernatural things happen throughout–and yet, Writer-Director Joshua Warren finds ways to connect with viewers. He makes it abundantly clear that, while the suit of armor exists on the outside, it represents the things that happen within us. I’d even take this metaphor as far as to represent a failing mental health. While we are supposed to be able to protect ourselves from harm, sometimes we struggle mentally and emotionally–and like the armor seen in My Dreams Have Been Dark of Late, it sometimes fails.
My Dreams Have Been Dark of Late is full of metaphor and deeper meaning, and in just four minutes viewers must dissect this film in a series of ways. Warren does a wonderful job of fitting all of this information into such a short film, and Lincoln is so impressive in his performance–more than capable of delivering emotion from the second he steps on screen until his final utterance. Lincoln is the face of My Dreams Have Been Dark of Late, and he uses what he’s given (a suit of armor and a stellar set) to create a powerful bond with viewers.
Written & Directed by Joshua Warren.
Starring Alexander Lincoln.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐½/10
Comments