GHOSTING SOCIETY  
dir. Rory Knox

Three men retreat from society to go camping,setting the stage for a film that, despite its flaws— bare bones cinematography and poor sound recording—manages to be surprisingly entertaining and occasionally funny. The film bears a clear influence from Terrence Malick, with its lingering shots of nature, meditations on God, and an intimate, almost whispered voice- over. The comedy shines in unexpected places, such as a quirky conversation about suicide framed as a 'vibes' issue. The characters debate the importance of getting the 'final vibrations' just right, adding an absurd humor to a grim subject. Another standout scene is when Rufus finally opens up to his camp mates about his past. However, this scene clumsily lingers on a mid shot of Rufus for too long, skipping reaction shots of the others as they process the truth behind Rufus' behaviour. 

The film would have been far stronger had it concluded with Rufus connecting meaningfully with the two strangers, rediscovering the beauty of nature, and returning to the world to settle his accounts. Instead, the final act falls into complete inconsistency. Moments after encouraging Rufus to look toward the future and embrace life, the same character vanishes into the woods with a small pistol, intent on ending his own. This abrupt shift in motivation is utterly baffling. This is a character supposedly determined to end his life, yet he orchestrates an elaborate escape from the city, involving two complete strangers through an internet ad. Why? Was it to delay the inevitable, or was he secretly hoping they'd talk him out of it? His actions defy logic. If his intent was suicide, why not go alone? Why involve two random strangers? 

Some of the character tropes are cliché,inconsistent and heavy-handed, piling on intense drama with two extremely dense revelations: a daughter's death and a looming suicide attempt. Themes of such emotional weight demand more breathing room than the film's 40-minuteruntime allows. Some transformations, while optimistic, lack the depth and gradual buildup needed to feel earned. Instead, they comes off as abrupt and unconvincing.

To conclude, the filmmakers should have invested more effort into the technical aspects of the film. The lack of basic color or sound correction is glaring These flaws distract from the overall experience and undermine the film's potential. What truly stands out, however, is the acting.The cast elevates the material, turning even poorly written lines into moments of genuine realism. Their performances also bring an occasional comedic charm that saves the film from sinking under its technical shortcomings. This is undoubtedly a noble effort,but for future projects, the filmmakers should prioritise refining technical execution.

3.5/5