It’s not often I come across these unsettling films that go for a different approach. Sometimes I don’t know what to make of them, but I can say they always make for an interesting experience. Reminds me of when I used to see those Travelling Productions from Quebec. It’s a dad daugther duo who behave in the most absurd way possible. If I have to take a business trip with Phoenix next month, I’m pretty sure it won’t be anything like this film, but I’m pretty sure we could manage. She’ll be shutting me out more once she’s 12, I’m sure. Let’s get into this film
A man named Adam (James Gilbert) and his teenage daughter Kai (Ciara Alexys) take a long drive out to a cabin in a provincial park of a small town. The two are enjoying an adventurous and peaceful night together. The next morning, Adam goes for a jog while Kai sleeps in. Adam looks up a news story regarding how their city’s power supplier, the Campbell power generation is planning to dump loads of nuclear waste real close to the water line. He just can’t seem to keep his mind off the tragic news showing on social media. They spend the rest of the day exploring the small town and enjoying their vacation. Then one day they come across one of the powerline poles from the nuclear power plant and discover how it has an emergency siren. It even mentions how the siren sounds off once a year. Later on, the strangest thing happens. It’s like Kai can’t even see her own father. It’s a confusing phenomenon and Kai decides to pack a bag and head out on her own darting into the woods. Adam gets even more concerned as his daughter’s behaviour gets weirder and weirder. They end up having to drive out of the area. As they do, Kai takes notice of things like the electrical wires, and the power plant. Adam notices historical signs that also point out how fires took their toll on the land. Eventually, whatever weirdness between them just happened is gone and the two talk to another person (Kimberly-Sue Murray) who drives by and converses with them about their plan of taking photos and where they’re headed next. But as they stop at a restaurant, they get more distant again and Kai wants nothing to do with her dad. Adam tells her off about it, and Kai struggles to explain why she’s acting irresponsible. Her irresponsibility increases as she decides to explore a lost trail and her father has to have another talk with her. Finally Adam loses it, and yells at Kai about how he feels and that they should be connecting as this is what they planned and he adds to the fact she is invading his privacy. This leads into a heated argument and even I’m getting uncomfortable about how this whole scene goes. Then one starts to wonder if they ever patch things up. If anything, they witness and experience more strange things going on.
Well, I don’t know what to make of this honestly. It doesn’t seem like much at first, but then things start to get you by surprise and before you know it, something else bigger happens too. But I guess that’s what makes it all the more interesting and fantastical to watch. Some people may lose interest at first, but if you’re very patient and wait things out, you just might get caught off-guard by something. Or maybe part of one of the different conversations will give you something to laugh at. It’s an interesting connection between 2 characters with a mixture of moods and dialogue, shots may not be much to some people, but I find them to be scenic and peaceful. It ends up being the most questionable film I’ve watched but that’s not a bad thing. Because I like different and new experiences, and this film certainly makes for one of those kinds.
