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Straight To The Moon Review 

Spoiler Alert!

The world of the modern teenager is constantly evolving, and with it is the media and programming with which they are being presented. The themes, motifs and topics that are being focussed on are different today then they were even ten years ago. What was once considered to be taboo for are now a commonplace subjects for discussion and depiction.

Where, in years gone by, a few love triangles and a good looking cast would have sufficed to entertain and receive critical acclaim, teenaged dramas now come with their own level of anticipation built in. Since the likes of “Skins” and “Misfits” graced televisions with their superb acting, low production costs, and compelling entertainment values, expectations have gone through the roof.

It was on these expectations that small time film fans awaited the latest production of “Cat and Dog Productions” – “Straight to The Moon”.

Thankfully “Straight to The Moon” did not disappoint, but instead revelled in those expectations and was gripping dramatic thriller that fulfilled its promises of high quality acting and perfect on screen chemistry.

“Straight to the Moon” is the perfect cocktail of drama, fear, moralistic questioning and suspense. It is the perfect short 5 minutes, and therefore manages, in that brief time, to surprise, shock and entertain; with scenes and ideas that make such an impact that I still have not been able to shake them. 

This, aptly titled short film is about a young girl who is faced with a small decision that could affect, and even determine, the rest of her life, and follows her decision through to the end. The film is concerned with the way that decisions are made, and the consequences of those decisions. Where a fork in the path to the future exists, a direction must be taken; a direction that could irrevocably alter the course of a person’s existence. This is a sphere that is extremely relevant to today’s young person, where individualism is paramount and our modern world offers a glittering array of freedoms and choices that have all have the potential to impact the future.

 Alongside this central premise, the film deals with a whole range of themes and issues that are current and topical to the modern teenager, such as love, relationships, drugs and abuse. These, sometimes shocking themes, are illustrated beautifully by the emotive scene changes and spectacular acting of lead actress.

Set in modern times in a normal suburban household, the characters are kept relatable and up to date with the realism of the costume design and sets.  The film has no dialogue and is therefore reminiscent the early 20^th century era of short films, where directors had to rely on the acting, story line, and cinematography to create the end masterpiece seen on the big screen. The film is almost Avant-garde in its direction, with the atmosphere building up to a crescendo that finalizes in one climatic plot twist at the end.

The only real downside of this short is that the low budget is sometimes made glaringly obvious. Using reverse shots to save on time and keeping many shots short without much camera movement make it painfully obvious that the costs for the production were kept incredibly low. However, in this modern age of the “B movie” where low budgets are becoming less of an issue to the success to a film, I think it is possible to look past its production flaws to see the true feature-diamond beneath. Indie movies are becoming more and more popular and this film demonstrates exactly why: it is in touch with its audience and has a relevant and legitimate message. “Straight to the Moon” has its proverbial finger on the pulse of the modern teenager.

Overall, despite its flaws, a strong cast, a solid screenplay, fantastic performances by the main lead and supporting actors Francesca Aird and Joshua Dixon, and thoughtful execution make this short film a must watch for this year. This film gives a chilling new reference point and meaning to the well known, well quoted phrase "Bang, zoom, straight to the Moon!”