LUCID
Directors Deanna Milligan and Ramsey Fendall‘s 2022 short film LUCID gets the feature treatment, and Fanatsia 2025 audiences are its first test subjects. The film follows Mia, a misunderstood art student who delivers more performance art than quality visual art. She’s stressed and overly dramatic, but that’s pretty much a requirement for us artsy folk. At risk of being ousted from her program, Mia turns to a lucid dream elixer to inspire her work.
The consequences of going down that rabbit hole, sometimes literally, are a barrage of repressed childhood memories and the instability of her mother’s treatment. Mia’s trips reveal a trauma monster, more specifically, one made of mom’s blond locks. This hair monster torments Mia throughout her jacked-up journey.
Determining between trip and reality becomes increasingly dizzying, but filmmakers utilize 35mm and 16mm film to keep it gritty and keep you guessing. If I have one complaint, the runtime could use a trim, but the soundtrack is life.
Caitlin Acken Taylor is everything. Mia Sunshine Jones is no easy role, but Taylor lives it. She even creates Mia’s paintings and sculptures. Her fourth wall break, and the precise moment at which it occurs, is jarring and genius.
If Jennifer Kent and Alice Maio Mackay had a movie baby, it might look something like LUCID. The entire film feels like a 90s music video, or a punk version of Jacob’s Ladder. LUCID is an exploration of generational trauma through art and original music. It won’t be for everyone, but there is undeniable confidence in style.
LUCID Teaser Trailer:
After coming to Fantasia as a short film selected for the Frontierés Market Shorts to Features Lab in 2022 and Sitges Fanpitch that same year, directing duo Deanna Milligan and Ramsey Fendall expand the world of Mia Sunshine Jones in their darkly trippy feature, LUCID. Mia is a rebellious art student who struggles to create the ultimate project for a demanding professor. Desperate to find her artistic voice, she takes Lucid, a candy elixir, to access her creativity, but taps into something much darker. Starring Caitlin Acken Taylor, who reprises her role from the short, and Georgia Acken (star of the 2023 Fantasia hit THE SACRIFICE GAME), Milligan and Fendall create a surreal nightmare with a vintage look that fully embraces the 90s grunge era with a punk art aesthetic. Using live on-set music, an eclectic cast, and loads of experimental and haunting visuals, the World Premiere of LUCID will be a nightmare-come-true.
Team: The film is co-written and directed by actor turned filmmaker Deanna Milligan (21 Jump Street, The X-Files) and cinematographer turned director/writer Ramsey Fendall (Ethan Hawke’s Seymour: An Introduction).
Cast: Caitlin Acken Taylor (Pistol) and Georgia Acken (Under the Bridge, The Sacrifice Game), Vivian Vanderpuss from RuPaul’s Drag Race is in the film and also designed the Hair Monster and Ayla Tesler Mabe one of the Goth Girls a is a real life guitar god! She has been featured in Rolling Stone and formerly part of the band Calpurnia with Finn Wolfhard.
Soundtrack features: Marta Jaciubek McKeever (Fan Death), James Wollam (Tears for Fears), Ayla Tesler Mabe (Calpurnia). Recording sessions were hosted at James Wollam’s Salt Spring Island studio. Wollam also co-wrote “If You Love Me”, a recurring folk-rock theme woven through the film as a relic of the fictional 1970s band Sweetbird, tied to the protagonist’s family mythology.
For all things Fantasia 2025, 
DROWNING DRY
The organic meandering of unplanned vacation time reads entirely authentic. The montage of the kids’ initial shenanigans and their mothers’ choreographed childhood dance are stand-out moments. At this point in the runtime (35 minutes), the audience could easily tap out. But the request for a swim and an innocent act of horseplay trigger a tonal shift.
The film’s deliberate observational pace builds discomfort, only exacerbated by non-linear storytelling. The moment you realize what’s happening, it is like a punch to the gut. This decision will either tantalize audiences or turn them off. Performances are outstanding from our cast of only six. Bareiša’s camerawork is perfect for his stylistic choices. DROWNING DRY is a meditation on loss, examining the varying emotional reactions between the sexes. It is a film that will have you talking about it long after the screen goes dark.
SAINT CLARE
![Saint Clare (2024) - [www.imdb.com]](https://i0.wp.com/reelnewsdaily.com/wp-content/uploads/Saint-Clare-2024-www.imdb_.com_.png?resize=678%2C626&ssl=1)
Visually and technically stunning, if not a touch confusing storytelling-wise. The script has a Freighteners and Civil Dead meets The Sixth Sense vibe. The camerawork suggests potential mental illness in Clare. The audience constantly questions what is real.
Ryan Phillipe makes the best of a weird situation. Rebecca De Mornay is a fantastic addition. Frank Whaley made my heart skip a beat. He deserved way more screentime!
More Dexter than Joan of Arc, Bella Thorne‘s spitfire attitude makes SAINT CLARE compelling through the confusion. I could easily see her captivating in a role similar to Jennifer Garner in ALIAS. Honesty, Thorne could easily slot into a new season of Marvel’s Jessica Jones alongside Krysten Ritter. They would kick major ass together.
The film doesn’t know what genre it wants to be. There is comedy akin to Idol Hands (which is some of the strongest), drama like Pretty Little Liars, and mystery that is as whirlwind as Memento. It feels like a YA graphic novel with panels missing. If anything, SAINT CLARE does make me want to read Don Roff‘s source material, “Clare At Sixteen,” if only for some potential clarification.
DANIELA FOREVER
As Nicolas learns to navigate and control his time and environment with Daniela, real life pales in comparison. He selectively shares information with the scientists, and suddenly Daniela’s behavior evolves, allowing Nicolas to control her newly created memories. With each evolution of his dream states, Nicolas destroys the dimensions of reality, while also coming to terms with his selfish behavior.
The lighting is dazzling. The stark visual contrasts, including varying aspect ratios, between the memory and the present, are incredible. The grainy, Super 8 camera effect screams sadness, while the sharp, CGI-enhanced dream state envelops the audience from every angle and emotion.
Fans of Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind will instantly vibe with DANIELA FOREVER. Vigalondo delves into selfishness, manipulation, and jealousy through his penchant for magical realism, sci-fi, and visual spectacle. If you are familiar with his resume, you understand how perfectly this film slots into his catalog. This exploration of anguish is undeniably extraordinary, but more importantly, DANIELA FOREVER is about rediscovering what makes life glorious, cherishing the details, honoring the mundane, and remembering how much joy still exists. It very much tackles the adage, “If you love something, set it free.”
ZENITHAL
Francis believes Sonia has told the police he is responsible, causing him to flee from the authorities. In his desperation, he finds solace in a laundry client who always seems to be wooing Francis away from his station. Turns out this man is no eye-fucking mechanic but a supervillain, woman-hating, mad surgeon named Doctor Sweeper, who wants to upgrade Francis with a massive robotic, brain-implanted penis and blow up the moon to disrupt menstrual cycles. (Still with me?)
Now, Sonia, Francis’ business partner Marcus, and a few ladies from Sonia’s Sexkido class (a method of martial arts that takes advantage of men’s depravity and returns power to women. While meant to be silly, I think it’s brilliant), must find Doctor Sweeper, save Francis, and clear his name.
Performances from the entire cast are phenomenal. They land somewhere in between Austin Powers and Zoolander, with incredible one-liners and a 1000% commitment to the gag. 
DON’T TELL LARRY
Dot-Marie Jones and Ed Begley Jr. serve up pro performances that most certainly elevate DON’T TELL LARRY. Kiel Kennedy has a genuine Will Ferrell energy. His portrayal of Larry is cringe, uncomfortable, and entirely unhinged. It’s wild and wonderful. I won’t say more because seeing is believing. Kennedy gives Larry a larger-than-life persona, mastering the comedy and terror. 
Kenneth Mosley is Patrick, Susan’s work bestie and equally fabulous sidekick. Do yourself a favor. Watch Mosley’s reel on IMDB. You will wonder why he isn’t on every screen in your home. His performance as Patrick immediately catches you off guard in the best way. He’s magnetic. Patty Guggenheim is unforgettable as the hyper-ambitious Susan. Guggenheim is a star. She has a similar energy to Julia Louis-Dreyfus. Her comic timing and charisma pull you in. Her chemistry with Mosely makes me want a sequel/spin-off/whatever!
animal.
Author and personal trainer Zane Griggs guides us through an hour-and-a-half argument for a carnivore diet. Often called “The Caveman Diet,” a meat-led way of eating has been all the rage in certain circles for years now. ‘animal.’ features doctors and a select few nutritionists presenting the benefits of consuming a diet contradictory to generations of teaching. Griggs uses testimonials from those who tout the life-changing effects of red meat. 
The film feels like one lengthy infomercial with cherry-picked science for effect. There is no mention of pollution and the links to socioeconomics. I’m not arguing the diet is faulty. I would have loved to have seen unbiased medical charts. I’m suggesting that the food chain accessibility should be half of the film. The fact that the only two black individuals interviewed are UK residents, a former bodybuilder, and his health coach daughter, Eddie and Selina Abbew (dad has 4m Instagram followers) is glaring. 
My husband went on a Keto diet in preparation for his half-Ironman competition in 2015. I joined him a few weeks in. On the fourth day, once my body entered ketosis, my body looked entirely different in all the best ways. I was shocked. But remaining on the diet in the real world was incredibly challenging. After a single cheat day, my body fell out of ketosis. I had to restart the process. I became angry, and I was always hungry. It wasn’t a sustainable lifestyle for me. 
While it is easy to agree with the profit-driven motivation of the pharmaceutical and processed food industries, it’s challenging to accept that my organically grown vegetables are trying to poison me. It comes down to money and US standards. We allow chemicals, pesticides, dyes, and unregulated factory farming that other countries do not. You can taste the difference. The final 20 minutes encourage regenerative farming and environmental care. It’s a great message, even if the film never delves into food-drought areas. 
A Keto diet worked wonders for my husband, but that was in an intense training setting. I was able to see immediate physical results, even though it did not end up feeling ideal for me. I’m worried that omitting information curves the film into pseudoscience territory. ‘animal’ has good intentions, but withholding information on the healthiest countries and their varied diets feels skewed. Viewers will have to come to their own conclusions based on the information presented, personal health journey, and availability of resources. If nothing else, ‘animal.’ triggers a broader conversation about nutrition and sustainability.
The jury is exceptional as they move through measured recall to furious shouting matches. Their diligence in tracking down evidence and looking at all sides gives me hope that jurors take their duties seriously. Jack Thornton’s editing is a feat. The choice to keep Krieps in the frame for longer than seems normal has a chilling effect. RE-CREATION is akin to live theatre. It is an improvisation session strapped to a ticking time bomb. The audience is the 13th jury member. Sheridan provides newsreel footage, newspaper clippings, video testimony, and audio recordings at the precise times we might feel lost. It is a real-time exploration of possibilities. 
Jim Sheridan also plays Juror #1, serving as a guide and sounding board. Sheridan’s attention to detail is award-worthy. Going as far as to take the jury on a tour of the key locations in the investigation. It’s hard to discern where Sheridan lies on the guilty spectrum personally. His extensive knowledge never feels coercive. He and Merriman skillfully make a case for confusion and conflict, mirroring the state of the evidence.
José Condessa creates a vibrant and charming character. He is sensitive and caring, everything a woman desires in a man. Condessa is dazzling. Ayden Mayeri gives June a true egocentric millennial with an unresolved emotional trauma vibe, which is precisely what Lilian T. Mehrel intended. Mayeri effortlessly glides into June’s arc. Amira Casar takes on Lela with a lived-in authenticity and passion. She holds each frame with her powerful presence. These two women share gorgeous chemistry. 
It becomes clear early on that fear and unresolved trauma impede Mel’s release. He lashes out to prolong his release. Getting polar opposite advice from Mark and Warren, Mel enters a quiet tailspin of decision-making as the clock runs down. 
Guy Pearce is a legend. Warren’s goal is emotional redemption for past transgressions, but reality outside forces him to save the only soul he can on the inside. Pearce is a quiet storm. His masterful ability to speak volumes with nothing but a breath proves vital to Warren’s arc. He is an unconventional guardian angel. Vincent Miller captivates as our young leading man. He comes with an unusually mature sense of self, and his comfort in front of the screen and alongside other screen titans is beyond impressive. 
Filmmakers Kasper Bisgaard and Mikael Lypinski bring Tribeca 2025 audiences documentary, THE END OF QUIET, a thought-provoking exploration of human connectivity. In an isolated town in West Virginia, the world’s largest radio telescope can pick up the murmurings of signals across the universe. To achieve this, the telescope resides in the Quiet Zone, the only place in the U.S. where Wi-Fi and cell phone signals are not permitted.
How do they fight the boredom? Brionna and her gun enthusiast grandfather, David, spend time together shooting his 37 guns and rifles and blowing things up. Choosing to reside in The Quiet Zone due to electromagnetic hypersensitivity, Clover and her dog, Beautiful, live for landline phone calls from her husband, who lives abroad. Her original poetry also serves as beautiful transition audio. A lonely but contented elderly vet named Willard spends his days drinking a lot of coffee and attending local funerals. Kirsten, 17, and Frankie, 23, are a young, engaged couple who dream of having a child. 
THE FILM IS SUPPORTED BY
Eshaghian and Jafari use the investigative narrative as a thread throughout the film. The film opens with the discovery of the body and the subsequent search for who and how. Crime photos are relatively tame if you are an avid Discovery ID watcher.
You must be logged in to post a comment.