My Written Review

Rarely, we see a short film that engages us all the way through and has such a large impact on us. Outlaster is a short film produced by Oliver Riches, which is his first released production, and may I say what a substantial start for his career. It was featuring Warren Riches, and as expected, an exceptional performance by him and could possibly be one of his best of his time. He delivers a strong and powerful role that displays the mental toll affecting him from the absolute loneliness and suffering he has faced. He fits the part greatly and makes it highly believable, you can believe and imagine  that the scenario is in fact real.

‘I’m Alone, afraid and on the edge of going insane.’

You could say this is a very clichè post-apocalyptic short film as it follows most traits as other short films within this genre. However this is where you are wrong. The story stood out among the rest due to its clever use of filming, dovetailed with a unique style of editing. It felt very realistic, bringing it to recent, real life events involving Trump and his election success. This gave it that tangible, believable angle that keeps the viewer hooked.

The visuality and storytelling is astonishing too. Without any CGI, which is what many post-apocalyptic films rely on, Outlaster uses narrative, many shots and effects to keep you interested. Having various close ups showing his desolate emotions, slow motion to emphasize that life was dull and monotonous. It does not stall at being exciting at all.

Personally I look forward to more work by this young talented filmmaker, one piece of advice would be to ensure he keeps true to his cinematic vision, and not be afraid to push the boundaries and avoid the mainstream mediocrity which has saturated the market.

Verdict

A bold, dramatic and engaging film, you encounter a connection between yourself and the protagonist feeling very sympathetic for him. It will leave you almost certainly intrigued to watch more. This post-apocalyptic film is graphic in the realms of loneliness and isolation and makes a significant film for audiences to deeply relish.

4 Stars