Afflicted with dyschonometria, a rare and fatal condition that affects her ability to perceive time and causes sudden blackouts, widowed single mother Frankie Rhodes (Ariella Mastroianni) relies on self recorded cassette tapes to help her navigate the world. She is desperate to make ends meet while she fights for custody of her young daughter, Cynthia (Emma Pearson). At a meeting for partners of people who have committed suicide, she meets Claire Reznik (Renee Gagner) who claims that her brother is abusive and agrees to help her get away from him.
There are obvious influences, including Christopher Nolan’s Memento and David Cronenberg’s Videodrome, though those moments are the film’s weakest. However, it feels fresh and different. It is grittily shot on the streets of New Jersey on 16mm film by Ryan J. Sloan and his cinematographer Matheus Bastos. Sloan’s noirish screenplay, co-written with Mastroianni keeps us guessing.
Mastroianni herself is a tremendous screen presence, with her nervy and pinched performance. This marks her and Sloan out as ones to watch and Steve Matthew Carter’s discordant score adds to the feeling of unease.
Gazer had a brief cinema run earlier this year and now can be rented to watch at home.
Rating: 8 out of 10