It takes a certain confidence for a film to open as Gazer does, with the exhortation to pay attention. “What do you see? Focus,” a disembodied voice instructs, inviting the viewer to pore over details. Perhaps you take note of the figure slumped on the sidewalk, or the other bodies moving behind windows. Maybe you drink in the grimness of the industrial New Jersey setting, or the brittleness of the heroine (Ariella Mastroianni).
Gazer rewards you for all this looking with an eye for striking imagery and careful compositions. But the act of observation can also imply a certain remove. As painstakingly crafted as this mystery-thriller is, it remains something to be admired from a distance rather than felt viscerally.
Arguably, its chilliness reflects its heroine’s own sense of disconnection. When we meet her, Frankie (Mastroianni) is deep into a progressive neurological disease that causes her to lose time...
Gazer rewards you for all this looking with an eye for striking imagery and careful compositions. But the act of observation can also imply a certain remove. As painstakingly crafted as this mystery-thriller is, it remains something to be admired from a distance rather than felt viscerally.
Arguably, its chilliness reflects its heroine’s own sense of disconnection. When we meet her, Frankie (Mastroianni) is deep into a progressive neurological disease that causes her to lose time...
- 5/22/2024
- by Angie Han
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Imagine if “Baby Driver” was a tragic, music-free exploration of mental decay, and you might be able to start picturing the tensest robbery sequence in “Gazer.” Just like Ansel Elgort’s tinnitus-inflicted getaway driver, Frankie (Ariella Mastroianni) needs to put her headphones in before she tackles a dangerous job. But she’s not blasting Queen or The Jon Spencer Blues Explosion.
The struggling single mother suffers from dyschronometria, a deteriorating mental condition that leaves her unable to accurately perceive the passage of time. Seconds and minutes seamlessly turn into hours and days in a way that leaves her constantly questioning when she is. It’s a workable, if inconvenient, situation when your biggest fear is missing a doctor’s appointment or zoning out at work. But when you have a matter of minutes to steal car keys from a dangerous man’s apartment before he comes home, the risks become considerably greater.
The struggling single mother suffers from dyschronometria, a deteriorating mental condition that leaves her unable to accurately perceive the passage of time. Seconds and minutes seamlessly turn into hours and days in a way that leaves her constantly questioning when she is. It’s a workable, if inconvenient, situation when your biggest fear is missing a doctor’s appointment or zoning out at work. But when you have a matter of minutes to steal car keys from a dangerous man’s apartment before he comes home, the risks become considerably greater.
- 5/22/2024
- by Christian Zilko
- Indiewire
Memento International has boarded “Gazer,” the debut feature of American filmmaker Ryan J. Sloan which will world premiere at Cannes Directors’ Fortnight.
Set in New Jersey, the paranoia thriller stars Ariella Mastroianni as Frankie, a young mother with a rare degenerative brain condition called dyschronometria. Struggling to perceive time, she uses cassette tapes for guidance and is unable to find steady work with her condition. When a mysterious woman offers her a risky job, she takes it, unaware of the dark consequences that await.
Sloan, who is from New Jersey and previously worked as electrician, pays tribute to New Hollywood’s great masters by revisiting the mystery thriller genre in “Gazer.” Lensed in 16mm stock, the film follows a magnetic character played by Ariella Mastroianni, who stars opposite Marcia Debonis, Renee Gagner, Jack Alberts and Grant Schumacher.
“‘Gazer’ is a redemption story derailed by a revenge story, following flawed characters...
Set in New Jersey, the paranoia thriller stars Ariella Mastroianni as Frankie, a young mother with a rare degenerative brain condition called dyschronometria. Struggling to perceive time, she uses cassette tapes for guidance and is unable to find steady work with her condition. When a mysterious woman offers her a risky job, she takes it, unaware of the dark consequences that await.
Sloan, who is from New Jersey and previously worked as electrician, pays tribute to New Hollywood’s great masters by revisiting the mystery thriller genre in “Gazer.” Lensed in 16mm stock, the film follows a magnetic character played by Ariella Mastroianni, who stars opposite Marcia Debonis, Renee Gagner, Jack Alberts and Grant Schumacher.
“‘Gazer’ is a redemption story derailed by a revenge story, following flawed characters...
- 5/2/2024
- by Elsa Keslassy
- Variety Film + TV
Stars: Chris Cimperman, Ariella Mastroianni, Michael L. Parker, LeJon Woods, Renee Gagner, James Liddell, Grant Schumacher, Michael L. Parker | Written and Directed by Bruce Wemple
Most of writer/director Bruce Wemple’s films fall into one of two categories. There are films about cryptids like Dawn of the Beast and The Retreat. And there are films dealing with abnormalities with time such as The Tomorrow Job and Lake Artifact.
Island Escape seems to be an attempt to bring the two themes together with this story of an accident at a research base on the Isle of Gran Manan. We know something is really wrong as the prologue shows a helicopter pilot being killed by what appears to be a bestial version of himself who then tries to fly off in the chopper only to have it explode in mid-air.
Meanwhile, after a barfight, Chase is approached by Alison who claims...
Most of writer/director Bruce Wemple’s films fall into one of two categories. There are films about cryptids like Dawn of the Beast and The Retreat. And there are films dealing with abnormalities with time such as The Tomorrow Job and Lake Artifact.
Island Escape seems to be an attempt to bring the two themes together with this story of an accident at a research base on the Isle of Gran Manan. We know something is really wrong as the prologue shows a helicopter pilot being killed by what appears to be a bestial version of himself who then tries to fly off in the chopper only to have it explode in mid-air.
Meanwhile, after a barfight, Chase is approached by Alison who claims...
- 8/10/2023
- by Jim Morazzini
- Nerdly
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