May 31, 2024
FILM: TACOMA
DIRECTED BY: JIGEESH MAGAR
STARRING: KARRIE MARTIN-LACHNEY, ASHER DEVA, ERIC ROBERTS
RATING: 3 out of 4 stars
By Dan Pal
Tacoma is an interesting new film centering on two people who develop a serum which transforms physically weakened and compromised laboratory animals into a normal state of functioning in a matter of days. The title doesn’t refer to the city in Washington but to a pig who is one of these first tested subjects. Once she has been “cured” the possibilities for the serum have far-reaching implications for humans and those that want control over it.
The first significant character we meet is Leo (Asher Deva) who is working in a home filled with detailed papers covering his walls and plastic surrounding a bunch of electronic equipment. It’s a very claustrophobic space suggesting he has been consumed by his research for quite some time. The room and many of the early scenes are shot very tightly with fluid handheld camera movements further emphasizing the enclosed world of the character’s scientific experimentation and obsession. While at a restaurant, which is also seemingly closed off from the world with graffiti covered windows, Leo meets waitress Alejandra (Karrie Martin Lachney) who appears to have her own stake in this game: Her father is wheelchair bound without the use of his legs.
All of this sets the stage for a narrative that takes its time revealing its various inter-connected elements. There are numerous other characters introduced in the opening scenes, including Eric Roberts as an unpleasant rich guy who is also on oxygen, bound to his bed, while verballing abusing his troublesome grandson Philip declaring the young man will never take over his “throne.” It takes a good half hour of such exposition to even begin to understand what is being developed as a larger story here and how all these characters relate to each other. Watching it I was just as frustrated as Leo seemed to be trying to solve the puzzle of the serum. He and Alejandra are basically attempting to get the cells of plants and humans to interact in a way that hasn’t been done before. Since the experiment hasn’t been tested on humans no one knows if that is even an option or what the lasting impact could be.
Ultimately, the narrative does pull itself together in the last half hour and is satisfying enough to suggest a sequel could be warranted. Similarly, at least one major twist is introduced that might inspire viewers to see the film again. Still, there is definitely more of this story to tell even if Tacoma as a film unto itself does have a strong climax and effective resolution.
For the most part this is a fairly dark and lower budget science fiction thriller. There aren’t really any special effects because they aren’t necessary. The technical elements of cinematography and editing do much of the work to keep the narrative flowing, at least in the film’s second half. The mostly little known actors (outside of Roberts who was an Oscar nominee back in the 1980s) are generally fine in their respective parts. Each has a scene or two to shine and convincingly relay their characters’ inner struggles and desires.
Tacoma will appeal to those interested in the effects and in-fighting that accompanies major scientific research. It’s a bit vague in its presentation at times but thrilling enough to satisfy interested viewers.
Tacoma is available for rental today on Amazon Prime.
FILM: TACOMA
DIRECTED BY: JIGEESH MAGAR
STARRING: KARRIE MARTIN-LACHNEY, ASHER DEVA, ERIC ROBERTS
RATING: 3 out of 4 stars
By Dan Pal
Tacoma is an interesting new film centering on two people who develop a serum which transforms physically weakened and compromised laboratory animals into a normal state of functioning in a matter of days. The title doesn’t refer to the city in Washington but to a pig who is one of these first tested subjects. Once she has been “cured” the possibilities for the serum have far-reaching implications for humans and those that want control over it.
The first significant character we meet is Leo (Asher Deva) who is working in a home filled with detailed papers covering his walls and plastic surrounding a bunch of electronic equipment. It’s a very claustrophobic space suggesting he has been consumed by his research for quite some time. The room and many of the early scenes are shot very tightly with fluid handheld camera movements further emphasizing the enclosed world of the character’s scientific experimentation and obsession. While at a restaurant, which is also seemingly closed off from the world with graffiti covered windows, Leo meets waitress Alejandra (Karrie Martin Lachney) who appears to have her own stake in this game: Her father is wheelchair bound without the use of his legs.
All of this sets the stage for a narrative that takes its time revealing its various inter-connected elements. There are numerous other characters introduced in the opening scenes, including Eric Roberts as an unpleasant rich guy who is also on oxygen, bound to his bed, while verballing abusing his troublesome grandson Philip declaring the young man will never take over his “throne.” It takes a good half hour of such exposition to even begin to understand what is being developed as a larger story here and how all these characters relate to each other. Watching it I was just as frustrated as Leo seemed to be trying to solve the puzzle of the serum. He and Alejandra are basically attempting to get the cells of plants and humans to interact in a way that hasn’t been done before. Since the experiment hasn’t been tested on humans no one knows if that is even an option or what the lasting impact could be.
Ultimately, the narrative does pull itself together in the last half hour and is satisfying enough to suggest a sequel could be warranted. Similarly, at least one major twist is introduced that might inspire viewers to see the film again. Still, there is definitely more of this story to tell even if Tacoma as a film unto itself does have a strong climax and effective resolution.
For the most part this is a fairly dark and lower budget science fiction thriller. There aren’t really any special effects because they aren’t necessary. The technical elements of cinematography and editing do much of the work to keep the narrative flowing, at least in the film’s second half. The mostly little known actors (outside of Roberts who was an Oscar nominee back in the 1980s) are generally fine in their respective parts. Each has a scene or two to shine and convincingly relay their characters’ inner struggles and desires.
Tacoma will appeal to those interested in the effects and in-fighting that accompanies major scientific research. It’s a bit vague in its presentation at times but thrilling enough to satisfy interested viewers.
Tacoma is available for rental today on Amazon Prime.