Sneha Jaiswal (Twitter | Instagram)
Written and directed by Eli Vidis Newman, short film ‘Concrete’ is only about 15 minutes long, so I feel like writing anything about it might tread on spoiler territory. It popped up on my YouTube feed and was uploaded by ‘Dust’, a channel known for showcasing short sci-film. I went in blind and was thrilled to be served some dystopian existential horror (not the supernatural kinds).
‘Concrete’ is essentially a retro-futuristic tale set in an oppressive world where everybody is fitted with a neurological implant on their forehead. While it’s never stated explicitly in the film, one can safely assume this device is a way of authoritarian control and keep track of the masses.
Henry Fulton Winship plays the protagonist, an ordinary working man, simply heading out to work, when he is attacked by a stranger, upending his reality. While veteran actor Ed Harris plays a Yoda-sort of wise-old-man who guides Ed through his struggles with a philosophical pep talk.
The opening scene instantly reminded me of the Vision from Marvel, because, you know, he has a infinity stone on his head. But there are no superheroes here, just a regular worker, content with his drab life, until someone tears away his implant, throwing his mind into deep chaos.
Some bits of Concrete felt like you’re watching a horror film: it’s creepy and unsettling. showcasing how people are willing to be mindless sheep, just to ‘fit in’ with the rest. The climax wraps the short film with a deep, depressing ending, where even after discovering a sense of individuality, the lead chooses to go back to his old life, pretending nothing has changed. So what’s even the point?
This is worth a watch for those looking for offbeat sci-fi movies, with a touch of the absurd.
Watch ‘Concrete’ on YouTube.
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