Processing

VHS Review

What a fun, dark, surprising and twisted ride this film is! From the get-go we are drawn in by the skillful performances Hana Mae Lee and James Michael Tyler turn in. Perhaps a bit cheeky when Christi implores Frank not to opt for backup — but the actors played it so well that we’re in for the ride even if we know it’s gonna be a bumpy one. The resonance of the iconic line –“choosing not to see something doesn’t mean it’s not there” — feels timely, necessary and offers a weight to this film that is unexpected and impactful.

 

In Processing masterful cinematography elevates the scripts strong narrative with the dexterous levity of a wink. Economic dialogue that never feels too forced or overly expositiony — which is hard to pull off, especially with the interrogation set-up. Well done. The distressing and dreadful tone is set right away — these two cops might not be scared as they enter the warehouse, but we sure are. Christi and Frank’s nonchalance perfectly heightens the audience’s spidey-senses. The ever-moving camera adds to a sense of impending doom, weaving effortlessly the fabric of this complex tale. The warehouse becomes such a defined character in the story and the twist at the end is both unexpected and FRANKLY, fully earned!

 

With a film like this it’s easy to get caught up in style or sensationalism and forget the story, but where we’ve seen so many others fail, Processing succeeds at skating the line: keeping us intrigued whilst towing a sound narrative. Sound and score do their job famously. The tension ebbs and flows beautifully, holding the space for the entirety of the film’s 16 minute duration. Speaking of which, 16 minutes in the hands of the wrong filmmaker, can feel like a lifetime, but in Processing we are with you the entire way, never looking to see how much time we have left. This is an accolade to the lead performances as well as to the craft of the filmmaker.

 

While the concept of the film is in many ways not new, the execution of the concept is outstanding and the ending is a satisfying pay off that feels fresh. There might be a bit of confusion as to how exactly the story plays out, what Jessica’s motivations are for ensnaring him in this way, but these questions are minor and the creativity in the payoff quells any skepticism.

 

Processing was a hands-down, knock-out for us at VHS this year. There was no arguing on the judges panel on this one, everyone agreed — this is deft, cinematic storytelling at it’s finest. The humanity in the characters perfectly grounds us, making it easy for us to buy into the totally supernatural narrative. Impressive at any rate, but even more so considering that this is director Renetta G. Amador’s debut. What an awesome way to kick off what is sure to be a long and fruitful career.

 

We are thrilled to include Processing ifn VHS’s 2021 lineup, and can’t wait to share it with our audiences. We look forward to hearing more from you in the future, please do keep in touch with any future work. Thanks again for your submission and welcome to the VHS family!

 

Sincerely,

The VHS Programming Team