Weathering is a short psychological-thriller film written and directed by Megalyn Echikunwoke. It revolves around a journalist, who, after losing her baby in labor, experiences violent attacks by a mysterious person as she struggles with guilt and grief.
Story
Gemina (Alexis Louder) is a journalist who is about to have a baby. Unfortunately, due to medical negligence, she has a miscarriage, and her marriage falls apart.
Despite her warning the doctors about something being wrong before the delivery, her pleas fall upon deaf ears. After the tragedy, Gemina spends time alone at home, drinking and blaming herself for everything that has gone wrong.
Eventually, she starts being stalked by a mysterious hooded person, who physically assaults her on multiple occasions. Troubled by these events, Gemina believes that someone wants to kill her.
Performances
Alexis Louder leads this gripping short film, and her performance is the anchor that holds the narrative together. In 20 minutes, she presents a gut-wrenching portrayal of maternal and mental health as her character succumbs to regret, grief, and guilt.
From her vulnerable and weak moments to her struggles and eventual success in accepting reality, Louder takes you on an impactful journey in such a short amount of time.
Jermaine Fowler, James Tupper, and Alfre Woodard also have tiny roles in the film and are a great support to Louder.
Positives
Weathering is a triumph in its writing and execution. Megalyn Echikunwoke showcases loss, grief, and fear in a way that feels realistic and may even be relatable for a lot of people.
Apart from the great lead performance, the film’s mood, colors, music, and sound effects are perfect for a thrilling tale dealing with psychological issues.
The film also succeeds in talking about racial issues, negligence, and coping, without being preachy or pretentious. Furthermore, it implies that the path to healing begins with acceptance.
Negatives
The narrative structure can be confusing sometimes. The film is edited in a way that showcases real-time events, Gemina’s hallucinations, and flashbacks simultaneously.
It is probably a creative choice to dive into the protagonist’s mind and make the experience more eerie and immersive. However, it can easily throw you for a toss if you don’t pay attention to detail.
Verdict
Weathering definitely deserves to be on your watchlist, owing to its brilliant lead performance, important themes, great writing, and spectacular execution. With a 20-minute runtime, you’re sure to come out of it quickly yet full of things to think and talk about.
Also Read: Queenmaker review: Engaging drama with stellar performances
