DEAD THING, THE

(director/writer: Elric Kane; screenwriter: Webb Wilcoxin; cinematographer: Ioana Vasile;  editor: Star Rosencrans; music: Michael Krassner; cast: Ben Smith-Petersen (Kyle), Blu Hunt (Alex), Joey Millin (Mark), Josh Marble (Danny), Sally Sum (date girl), John Karna (Chris), Katherine Hughes (Cara), Brennan Mejia (Paul), Emily Joy Lemus (Barista), Aerial Washington (Sarah); Runtime: 95; MPAA Rating: NR; producers: Matt Mercer, Montie Yazzie; Yellow Veil Pictures, Slow Draw Films; 2024)

“A dark and tense horror pic about a toxic singles LA dating scene.”

Reviewed by Dennis Schwartz

Elric Kane (“Murmurs”/”Kissy Kissy) in his debut feature fiction film as the lone director, who is previously known for his work as the host of both the Pure Cinema and Fangoria’s Colors of the Dark podcasts, and of being the AMDA Director of the college of Performing Arts in Los Angeles. He co-writes the obsessive bizarre screenplay with Webb Wilcoxin, creating a dark and tense horror pic about a toxic singles LA dating scene.

Alex (Blu Hunt) is a bored LA office cubicle worker at a non-creative job. The Gen Z beauty finds it necessary to use a dating app to have a social life because of her long work hours. She also tries meeting men in bars or restaurants, with mixed results. It’s a life of one-night stands, with no Mr. Right in sight, as she searches in vain for meaning in her life.

At last she thinks she met Mr. Right, as she hooks up with nice guy, Kyle (Ben Smith-Petersen), and goes to his apartment. He’s a muscular Hollywood stuntman, who she finds it easy to talk to and has good sex with.

But he vanishes the next morning and she futilely searches for him, but he ghosts her.

Meanwhile, in her time of need, Alex’s roommate Kara (Katherine Hughes) neglects her because she’s stuck in a rotten relationship with the nerdy Paul (Brennan Mejia) and has no time for her.

The film asks what might happen when singles rely too much on technology to find happiness and are facing loneliness as if it was a form of eternal death. Our heroine tries to get her act together, but when left alone can only feel alive when she masturbates to a screen.

It played at the Fantasia International Film Festival.

REVIEWED ON 8/5/2024  GRADE: B
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