GRIMMFEST 2020: 12 Hour Shift
grimmfest 2020Brea Grant's sophomore feature-length entity 12 Hour Shift is a mixture between an absurd It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia episode and reminiscent of the early comedic work from Coen Brothers. Combined with a new strong voice from Grant, 12 Hour Shift is a terrifically produced and thrilling little feature.
Wearing its inspirations on its sleeves, 12 Hour Shift is never afraid to indulge in the farcical nature of its genre — not quite horror but not quite comedy. Grant's film is a perfect blend between the two mutual genres. Riding a thin line between being horrified and in the same breath indulged by the utter ridiculousness of it all, 12 Hour Shift is never, at any point, dull or wavering to its audience.
Undoubtedly helped on by its tight and slim eighty-six-minute runtime, however, Grant presents a fascinating micro-world here full of entertaining and intimate details that are slowly but surely revealed over time. The farcical nature of proceedings is definitely the highlight but it’s the subtext present that offers a mature and elevated story.
Arkansas' history with drug abuse and addiction is well documented. Grant, below the surface but undeniably seen and heard, offers a glimpse into that world in an eye-opening account. It is a meaningful and compelling attitude the film hides, much like its contextual appearance regarding the characters who present it, with a profound and layered impact.
Angela Bettis as Mandy does a truly outstanding job to juggle and craft an evocative performance with all this depth provided. Bettis excels, as does the film, in restraint. It is not what is said through exposition. It is what is shown through the lens of cinematographer Matt Glass and the production design from Gypsy Taylor. All gravitate to reinforce and layer Bettis' performance.
That being said, not only is the maturity to elevate the material through small subtextual strands present. Grant also has an incredible amount of fun with the horror tropes. This is not gory, per se, but when Grantindulges the audience, it is done in a roaring and successful fashion. Simplistic, yes, albeit wonderfully implicated and executed with restraint.
There are small insignificant stumbles the film presents. A third party storyline regarding an undercover operation Bettis' Mandy is undertaking doesn't get the time it deserves to be explored or indulged. The film also implements a few minor glorified cameos such as Matt Foley and David Arquette that feel somewhat out of place yet, in the same breath, feel integral of sorts. It will come down to personal opinion if it overstuffs the material but, nevertheless, 12 Hours Shift is a riot from start to finish.
