Recap and reviews for Day 6 of the 2022 Tribeca Film Festival

I’m over half-way through my Watchlist for the 2022 Tribeca Film Festival, and it’s been great thus far. While some films failed to excite me, others provided the entertainment and emotion I love from film festivals. Day 6 was for rejuvenation. For a festival like Tribeca, you need one. What better way to relax than with horror and a film centered around mental health?

While I only watched two feature films, it gave me the opportunity to watch some shorts! Here’s a recap of all the films I viewed and my corresponding reviews.

The Year Between | Director: Alex Heller

Synopsis: Forced to return home from college after her erratic behavior alienates everyone around her, Clemence begrudgingly begins a new chapter in the suburbs, hell-bent on defying her mom, dad, younger siblings, therapist—and a diagnosis of bipolar disorder.

Review: When a film’s narrative centers around mental health, I will always support the work. It’s one of those topics near and dear to my heart. However, in Alex Heller’s The Year Between, the main character is so unlikeable that it’s hard to enjoy the story. Some may argue that Clemence is a product of her disorder and behaves that way because of it. Yet, she maintains her bad attitude and behavior even after diagnosis and medicine.

By the time the story develops and the character grows from her behaviors, it feels a little too late for me. Specifically, she doesn’t apologize for her wrongdoings and blames it on her disorder. Having a character refuse to take responsibility for her words or actions is quite the choice. And having that same character speak to people the way she does is not a good look.

If you’re a fan of misfit young adults and people who don’t accept responsibility for their words, this may be the film for you. For me, it was a gigantic misfire.

The Black Phone | Director: Scott Derrickson

Synopsis: Locked in a soundproof basement by a masked child killer, a teenage boy finds the possibility of hope through an unexpected and supernatural lifeline: a telephone on which he receives motivational calls from the killer’s past victims.

Review: They just don’t make films like this anymore. Scott Derrickson’s The Black Phone is based on the 2004 short film of the same name. It has elements that combine the best of old and new-school horror. Audiences can expect to not learn much about the film’s villain. However, it’s exactly why the film works so well. Through the eyes of the town’s children, viewers will experience true horror unlike anything they’ve seen.

The Black Phone contains performances that are spectacular. Specifically, Madeleine McGraw is the film’s standout actress. What she accomplishes in this feature is award worthy. Combining the very best of supernatural horror with underlying “true crime” vibes, Derrickson’s latest horror feature is exactly what we’ve been missing.

Tribeca Shorts: Obstacle Course

In life, nothing stays the same.

The Artichoke Season | Director: Orna Rottenberg

Synopsis: The Artichoke Season follows the fantastic childhood memories of 10-year-old Rosalie in a Jerusalem slum after her father leaves home.

Daydreamers | Director: Ante Pask

Synopsis: The Artichoke Season follows the fantastic childhood memories of 10-year-old Rosalie in a Jerusalem slum after her father leaves home.

Thanks for tuning into my recap of the Tribeca Film Festival Day 6. Tomorrow is a big marathon day! Stay tuned as I complete the remaining entries on my watchlist!