If you want something go out and get it. God helps those who help themselves. Persistence is key and routine makes for a happy family. Most of us have heard these sayings before and for many people they are words to live by, especially for William, who happens to be one of the two main characters this film focuses on. He's one of those guys you just naturally like. Polite, courteous, motivated and unusually driven when it comes to accomplishing his goals. The ideal neighbor or type of friend we all wish for. These types of guys usually end up with the perfect girlfriend or wife. The perfect person to compliment their seemingly perfect social status. In this case, that other person is Claire. The ideal modern woman. Beautiful, smart and of course, incredibly strong minded. Would you expect anything less? The seemingly perfect power couple living within their own perfect corner of the world, a fairy tale for modern times. Only... that's really all it is. A fairy tale. A fiction dreamed up by William himself. An imagining where he can abduct a person, and force them over time to love him. A nightmare story that Claire has fallen into, and where the world of "Stay" resides. The world of a "not quite so helpless" hostage, and a very damaged man. Christopher James Cramer, who wrote and directed this film, aims high with a script designed for a low budget flick, and a knack for coaxing some excellent performances from his two leading actors. The bulk of this hour and a half film takes place in one location, the small residence that is William's home. You may think this subtracts from the overall value of the production, yet it does not. The writing of the movie remains focused on character driven drama, with the background location utilized as a set-piece only. The gravy on the potatoes. Within this small dwelling some excellent emotional games get played. Everything including some sinister, yet oddly comforting banter - to escape attempts and even suicide. All the bells-and-whistles are blown and rung, everything to keep this independent production interesting and relevant. For many would-be viewers the horror is in the situation, yet the entertainment is in the way these characters react to one and other. Christopher James Cramer has even managed to include a little comedy within the script; even if it's quite dark and really only amusing at the very end. However you slice it though, "Stay" is a scary film on the down-low. The horror is in the content, not necessarily the visual presentation. What a great way to produce an indie film. Technically, "Stay" is a low budget film that feels much bigger. A lot of this can probably be attributed to the single location. Easy to control, easy to maintain and easy to record audio. That doesn't mean marks should be taken away for it's simplicity; rather that marks should be given for the smart design. As a viewer, I don't care about how or why something looks good on my screen. Only that it does. When writing about "Stay" and it's general quality - I really only have good things to write. It may not be perfect all the time, but it's played out so well you hardly notice... or care. Zach Kanner and Devin Brooke as William and Clair, feel like a perfect fit as opposing forces. Both actors do complete justice to their characters, and the onscreen chemistry just feels right. Fear, hate, hope and love are all portrayed in seemingly perfect amounts at the right times. For a theatrical concept such as this to work, you better have some damn talented people in the leading roles. With "Stay" that is never a problem or concern. At least not from my end as a viewer. Other than that, the pacing felt right, and so did the general length of the movie. Maybe a few minutes could have been shaved but realistically... it was all fairly smooth sailing. The "familiar" overall aspects of "Stay" generally worked, and maybe even served a purpose. We may have seen similar stories before but because of that, we can all understand the concept and even empathize with the characters. Easily a well above average film, "Stay" works as a movie much more than it doesn't. Watching it was a treat and I'd gladly recommend it to the majority of my movie watching friends. A solid, well earned four out of five in my books.
