As They Continue to Fall (2016)

"As They Continue to Fall" is an American 6.5-minute live action short film from 2016 and the main reason this is known is not director Nikhil Bhagat, but writer C. Robert Cargill because he is also one of the writers who came up with the recent Marvel film Doctor Strange. So it is somewhat fitting that in this very brief film here we also have a main character who is a bit of an outsider, namely a man hunting fallen angels, so I assume he is the good guy? Sadly I must say that while the visual side is as convincing as is John Henry Whitaker for the main part I felt on way too many occasions that the running time really hurts the film overall because it needs so much more in terms introduction, presentation and elaboration when it comes to the (apocalyptic?) this takes place in and all the characters really. As a consequence the part with the boys felt so irrelevant that it perhaps should have been left out completely. Like I wrote in the title of my review: It could be a pretty decent film of 100 minutes, but as a short film it simply isn't working out at all, at least not at this minimal runtime. Don't watch.

Let me start of by saying I did not know what kind of short film this was going to be, I have seen many before in the past some good some bad and other plain ugly. This however was surprisingly good It did not have that low budget feel you get in some short films, it felt cinematic something along the lines of a independent film and the lack of special effects make it better. The way we are introduced to this world of angels and angel slayer reminds of John Wick and how we where eased into a world we knew nothing about. It felt like a medieval story retold in the modern times. the drifter felt like a wandering monster hunter something along the lines of a Witcher from the Witcher book and video games. I would really like the creators to flesh out the story maybe as a mini-series of sorts. At the end of the day I liked this short film.

From the opening scene to the last words uttered, this short film captivates and excels. The cinematography sets up a bleak portrait of a lonesome survivor, fighting tirelessly in a future dystopia. Rather than bombard you with unnecessary backstory, the writers of this film instead invite you to create your own scenarios that could have led to such a dark future. The one flashback sequence brings up images of a boy possessed with a power he can't understand, leading others to call him crazy. This was enough backstory to have me running through possible situations and explanations for everything else I saw in the film.What stands out most to me in this film is how well the effects resonate with the overall tone of the film. Normally seen as guardian figures, the angels in this are dark and downright scary. That, along with a very convincing lead role, set up an entirely believable and immersive world. I can only hope that this becomes a full length production, as there are many questions and ideas that come to mind when the six minutes are over. All in all, one of the best short films I've seen and I will be keeping an eye out for more!

With their gritty take on a vagabond warrior confronting supernatural forces on the moonlit rooftops and filthy alleyways of the city, relative newcomer Nikhil Bhagat and "Sinister" scribe C. Robert Cargill have come together (along with John Henry "How-the-hell-isn't-this-guy-in-everything?" Whitaker) to bring to life a character and universe begging for a feature adaptation. With the film's combination of "The Book of Eli", "Dark City" and "Léon: The Professional", it's easy to see how such a project could have tremendous potential.It's a compelling portrait of the glamourless life of God's assassin that uses religious imagery without an overt political agenda. The film tells the tale of a weary soldier nobly resigned to his fate, getting by on what he can find in the trash and carrying out his assignments with a rifle that, much like him, is held together by rags. Though things move quickly, Bhagat lets his scenes breathe. He allows the audience to absorb the film's dingy atmosphere and Whitaker's imposing yet sympathetic presence.One particularly effective moment features an unbroken take that traps the viewer in the alley as Whitaker's Walker comes to collect his trophy. Though the camera stays firmly planted at a distance, it keeps the audience as a captive throughout the whole process. Bhagat's choice to use minimal audio enhancement instead of a score for the entire ordeal only adds to the impact of the moment. Whitaker's cold efficiency suggests that the brutality we've witnessed is common and familiar to our hero, though the act's questionable necessity makes you wonder how much of this is duty and how and much is revenge.Though just six and a half minutes, the film raises a lot of questions about the complicated motivations of our gruff-but-engaging protagonist and many concerns about the consequences of his actions. With Cargill's recent successes providing potential opportunity, let's hope he has the desire to go back and give this story the time it deserves. With any luck, this is just an introduction.