Attempting to surpass his father’s legacy, a reclusive neuroscientist becomes entangled in his own experiment, pitting ten fragments of his consciousness against each other.
What if you could improve yourself? What if you could erase bad memories and make yourself smarter? Would you risk your very sanity? Minor Premise is a complex and intelligent film filled with surprise after surprise. Ethan Kochar’s experiment is an attempt to heal. His attempts to outdo his father’s legacy could cost him everything. His willingness to risk any remaining relationships he holds dear is boundless. Becoming the subject of his own experiment tunes him into the darkest parts of his subconscious. Director Eric Schultz has crafted an intricately edited thinkpiece that will twist your mind. Just before the 34-minute mark, Minor Premise both explains its plot and has one of the most clever single shots of the entire Fantasia 2020 Film Festival. Intentional or not, it feels like a nod to Peter Pan and time.
The storyboarding for Minor Premise must have been a major feat. Trying to keep the audience engaged during a myriad of jumps and emotional states feels like an impossibility, but Eric Schultz, and fellow writers Thomas Torrey, and Justin Moretto manage to use the chaos to drive the plot forward. It is where the film thrives. And yes, while it is about science, deep down it’s about embracing emotional truth. Minor Premise hinges entirely on Sathya Sridharan‘s interpretation of the science-based script. It is, at times, manic. Other times measured. Even hitting an even-keeled determination we are desperate for him to be for us. He represents the viewer. The desire to understand, the want for success, and the need to get to whatever conclusion is imminent. His scene to scene, moment to moment emotional highs and lows are altogether captivating. Minor Premise takes you on a ride in which you will check your own morals along the way.
Find out more about Minor Premise and Fantasia 2020
Something terrifying is happening off the coast of Block Island. A strange force is thriving, influencing residents and wildlife alike. Birds are dropping out of the sky. Some people have been dropping too, into inexplicable emotional collapse. Harry Lynch (Chris Sheffield, THE STANFORD PRISON EXPERIMENT) has always been a bit of an outsider in town. Now, he watches in dread as his father (Neville Archambault, 13 CAMERAS) grows increasingly forgetful and confused. And angry. Very, very angry. His sister Audry (Michaela McManus, THE VILLAGE), whose work in marine biology will soon prove invaluable, returns to town with her daughter and immediately sees what Harry sees. Her explorations into the increasingly grisly wildlife phenomena intersect with the triggers of her father’s actions, leading them all towards chilling revelations that no one is prepared for. Revelations that will affect her family in unimaginable ways.
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