FANTASIA 2020: Minor Premise
fantasia 2020Minor Premise is the directorial debut of Eric Schultz – not to be mistaken for The Mask star – and offers up an engaging and often frightening horror mixed with science-fiction in a compelling concoction of conviction.
There are to major factors that work for Minor Premise. Its surface-level genre approach to science fiction is one of them. It is an interesting and somewhat unique take and spin on the Carruth's Primer or Johnson's Looper formula. Granted, said narrative does not necessarily craft a drastically innovative tale, but what is presented from writer-director Schultz is refreshing, nevertheless. To give it the most simplistic, albeit incredibly complimentary, response would be to say that it does everything without excessiveness.
Gone is overly excessive scientific jargon or a world a little too big for its boots. Schultz, throughout, presents a gritty and realistic setting and one that often feels uncomfortable and unnatural – something to note – which brings this review to the film's second and arguably finest aspect.
Crafted in a more intimate and personalised injection of internal guilt and morbid loss, and not bogged down in unneeded excessiveness unlike much of its more big-budgeted contemporaries. Minor Premise has the time and depth available to explore character. The result is a fabulous yet incredibly harrowing central performance from Sathya Sridharan as Ethan.
Compared to its surface-level exploration of genre, Sridharan provides the film's most complex and deeply layered aspect with his multifaceted performance that is undeniably an allegory for abusive relationships and/or disorders. While it may not be overly clear which takes precedent, Sridharan commands the screen with his often devastating and impact performance with deeply enriching emotional range and a concoction of a multi-character persona. It should be noted that this is not on the same level as James MacAvoy's performance in Split and Glass. However, Sridharan is utterly tremendous and dearly captivating throughout.
Eric Schultz's Minor Promise is a stirring and compelling directorial debut. It does struggle to grasp itself at times – most notably, the slightly flat ending – however, it is shot with an outstanding eye from cinematographer Justin Derry, who captures the intensity and gritty mindset of Sridharan's Ethan in all its encompassing, brooding mood with an equally as fantastic eye for detail regarding the film's production design.
