WRITTEN BY: Christopher Purnell DIRECTED BY: Christopher Purnell GENRE: Thriller TIME: 85 minutes
on FACEBOOK on TWITTER on iMDB
Back Home ( 2016 )
Feature Film Review
An unusual quality exists within "Back Home" that is really quite hard to explain. A grittiness, that seems to envelope the production itself lending credibility to the overall sad nature of the film. In my personal opinion, this single factor adds a huge amount of value to Christopher Purnell's take on PTSD, ensuring the viewer keeps their eyes on the screen no matter what the perceived notion may be. Essentially, this is a hard look at what could end up being any of us. A culmination of life, death and our own perceived ideas of right, wrong and everything in the middle. Using a soldier as the protagonist makes things a little easier to tell this particular tale, hell, maybe even makes things a little more interesting. However, the simple fact is that this story could be about any of us given the right mix in life. "Back Home" plays with the "what if" elements that soldiers of all people understand... but it's not a stretch to write that any one of us could have a similar outlook on things. Mental illness, violent outbursts, inherited or genetic, is a real issue. Maybe PTSD takes the spotlight now days, but mental health issues and stressors have always been present, even with children. War is just another tool of the disease, although seemingly faster acting. The inclusion of a fresh out of school psychologist, attempting to heal our lead character was a welcomed treat, showcasing that nobody is perfect and no matter our profession, or how experienced we may be, people are people... are people. This is, of course, an indie film. So if you're expecting some blockbuster production values... you're in the wrong place. "Back Home" is full of shaky, focus impaired visuals and at times, some really odd coloring. I would be ignorant if I didn't mention that these very same independent staples, are what actually add the grit to the film. The same grit that actually enhances the movie and gives it it's style. Director Christopher Purnell has used the tools at his disposal, or lack of them, to his complete advantage. What I, personally, didn't like all that much is the constant, jumpy nature of the edit. "Back Home" jumps and cuts back and forth, all the time, throughout the entire film. This is clearly a stylistic choice but for me, it simply kept things awkward and confusing throughout the movie. Mix this technique with the above mentioned shake and blur of the camera, and you've got "confusion stew" boiling over the top of the pot. Luckily, the writing is good, and the cast do a splendid job in their respective roles; offsetting the confusion of the edit. Without the seemingly natural ability of the lead actors, "Back Home" could have easily become an unwatchable mess, that had more in common with an experimental abstract film. The freedom of independent film is a great way to experiment with styles and formats, but when mixing multiple unusual visual and editorial techniques, it's important not to go over the top. "Back Home" rides that fine line and yes, at times the fit is nice. Presenting the confusion to the viewer that the characters must be feeling. I was impressed with how this film flowed, considering what I just wrote above. "Back Home" tells an interesting, yet sad story. It's style, although a little confusing, is what manages to pull the viewer inside Mr. Purnell's world. This is one of those films that make me wish I could give away specific plot points, but that would wreck the overall idea behind the movie. Let's just say I had no problem watching from start to finish, and was glad to have been given the chance. -MC
