Shadows on the Wall

Sketch

dir-scr Seth Worley
prd Steve Taylor, Tony Hale, Kevin Downes, Daryl Lefever, Katelyn Botsch
with Tony Hale, D'Arcy Carden, Bianca Belle, Kue Lawrence, Kalon Cox, Jaxen Kenner, Genesis Rose Brown, Randa Newman, Allie McCulloch, Nadia Benavides, Dajanae Cole, Josh Inocalla
release US 8.Aug.25
24/US Angel 1h33

TORONTO FILM FEST

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With an enjoyably offhanded tone, this family adventure throws realistic characters into an outrageously bonkers situation. Writer-director Seth Worley maintains a comical tone while also building suspense with several seriously unnerving moments that are livened up with inventively rendered effects. While there's a proper sense of menace, the ensuing mayhem is generally more brightly amusing than scary. And bigger ideas woven throughout the screenplay catch the imagination.

After her mother dies, preteen Amber (Belle) begins expressing some very dark attitudes at school. So her worried dad Taylor (Hale) takes her to a psychiatrist (Benavides), who encourages her to express her violent thoughts in a private sketchbook, which quickly becomes filled with freaky monsters. Meanwhile, her little brother Jack (Lawrence) discovers a woodland pond with magical properties. And when Amber's notebook falls in, her aggressively destructive creations come to life, leaving colourful paint, glitter and pandemonium in their wake. So Amber, Jack and fellow student Bowman (Cox) team up to take them on.

Through all of this, Taylor is trying to sell the family home with the help of his sardonic estate agent sister Liz (Carden). And of course it doesn't help when these nutty monsters begin popping up around the house, leaving vibrantly hued streaks on every person or place they touch. As the craziness accelerates, the film has some fun with outrageous set pieces and witty movie references, all while maintaining a sense of emotional honesty.

Performances are relaxed and authentic, anchored by Hale and Carden, who play everything in a superbly understated way that brings out natural humour while allowing more serious thoughts and feelings to gurgle under the surface. Belle and Lawrence are also superb as the kids at the centre of this colourful storm, grappling with their grief while trying solve a problem they helped spark. At one point, a moment of conflict adds a surprising edge to what they are going through.

Running through this is a thoughtful exploration of the dangers of keeping emotions pent up inside. As Liz puts it, Taylor needs to worry less about the girl who is drawing pictures of her pain and worry more about the boys who are ignoring theirs. This is repeated in various ways, leading to a cathartic final sequence that feels rather tidy after all of the chaos that had been previously unleashed. But the idea itself is important, and at least it's delivered with some spark.

themes, language, violence 2.Aug.25

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