Fantasia 2021: Tin Can
fantasia 2021While the COVID-19 Pandemic has served as a cataclysmic force of destruction and pain in nearly every field of existence, one key area where its effects are being seen is the cinematic art form. Serving as an act of diastrophism when it comes to the heart and soul of countless new projects, the pandemic and the emotions to come from it are continually being felt.
Screening as part of the 2021 Fantasia International Film Festival, Seth A. Smith's Tin Can introduces itself as a more basic claustrophobic thriller only to find a deeper identity within the post-lockdown consciousness. Set in a world where a mysterious fungal infection runs wild, a scientist named Fret (Anna Hopkins) is making progress in her work against the fungus when she is attacked and wakes up trapped in a small metal cage alongside many others.
Looking past the direct correlation of both the film's world and the real world dealing with the destruction and fear of a pandemic, Tin Can finds an identity and horror within a claustrophobic fear similar to the isolation many faced in lockdown. While Fret might be able to communicate with those around her, she still has to deal with her feelings of isolation and desire to leave even though she is trapped. This feeling is all too similar to that of lockdown that saw many struggle with their isolation. While the antagonists of Tin Can who are keeping Fret trapped clearly are villainized much more than lockdown laws ever should be, the base emotions hit hard and feel quite relevant.
This thematic depth is held together and overall elevates a rather artistic and experimental film when it comes to technical elements. The cinematography is cold with precise shot composition that at times feel like works of art. Tin Can follows in the footsteps of the modern horror genre in its usage of highly crafted yet ultimately confusing sequences showing unique production design and uneasy tension to solid results. So many of these artsy films struggle due to their lack of confidence in voice and direction with films hoping the audience will naturally project something interesting onto its style but Tin Can has that clear connection to the emotions of lockdown which gives it the focus needed for this style to actually work.
The one real issue with the emotions within Tin Can is the lack of conclusion. The film sets up a memorable foundation but really struggles to build on top of what is accomplished in the first 45-minutes. While it is plausible that this is because of the uncertainty of these emotions that are being felt currently without any conclusion, but as a narrative to end up trying to resolve this with artistic shots just isn't enough. It definitely does feel like the film reaches its high in the first half and the second half, while not bad, is undeniably a bit more boring and hard to sit through.
Especially in the realm of COVID-19 adjacent cinema, Tin Can surprises as one of the more interesting and effective outings for the medium. Mixing an experimental style with grounded emotion, the film finds a purpose that holds the project together and elevates the viewing experience overall. Maybe the film isn't a masterpiece, but it is an easy recommendation.
