I'm not a Mormon. I am a former Southern Baptist turned Ignostic-atheist. Been an Ignostic-atheist for 10 years, before that an agnostic-atheist for 19 years. I have read the Book of Mormon. One of my father's good friends is a Mormon, and he gave my father the book and that's how I was able to read it. Didn't agree with any of it, of course but I used to debate/argue different religions (usually staying away from religions I didn't know or knew little about) and it's good to know the subject. The religious typically do little to no research, I have found, in other religions and/or denominations and/or non-religions. Which is sad because it becomes one-sided and no one on either side typically learns anything from anyone; and the cycle of ignorance continues for most involved.
Now, I'll watch anything at least once. Typically, from the Mormon films I have seen (which are less than a handful) they use slights as a way of putting their message across to the audience watching: mission work through film. While that element may be in this short, it's probably more of a backdrop than anything so, if you love films and you're another denomination of Christianity or another religion/non-religion, then it shouldn't be a big deal. It's not for me. Most protestant Christian films I've seen (more than a handful) try to force the viewer to accept, from the beginning, that denomination's point-of-view, and any other point-of-view is incorrect which is probably why on websites like this they overwhelmingly get low ratings because everything else (plot, acting, script, direction etc.,) is insignificant to that point-of-view.
Now, I know some would disagree with that but film lovers really only care about coherency. It could be a film made on someone's cell phone and most of us wouldn't care as long as it is coherent and follows through on the plot. Look at El Mariachi (1993) - that cost $7,000 to make in 1993 ($12,000 in 2018 money), and it was coherent and followed through on plot. Technically speaking: it was poorly made but most consider it a great film, including me.
This short film is poorly made but it is coherent and follows through on plot. Now, one major mistake the filmmaker made was the reveal at the end which was revealed (technically) earlier. It was a double reveal. Those are nonsensical. And, if you've seen a lot of similar films in the past then the standard screen vs the widescreen (black and white to color) is also a reveal to the 'twist' or 'a-ha' moment right before the ending. It makes the viewer think that the filmmakers presume we're too stupid to figure it out. I once saw a movie that explained every scene prior to that particular scene. Don't do that. That's insulting the viewer. It was probably done unconsciously but don't do it.
No one likes people bothering them at home whether they be missionaries, salesmen, people running for office, census takers etc., People just don't like it. And, in some neighborhoods: it's quite dangerous. Missionaries trying to solve a mystery of robberies. Frankly, I don't see it but didn't make the film any less. The character of Rick (Mason Davis) as a drug addict - sorry, never once thought he was a drug addict. I was once a drug addict in my youth, and I've known other drug addicts and still know a few and I never thought that Rick was a drug addict. The actor probably should have researched that a bit more, if he did at all. I laughed at the part of the Jehovah Witnesses proselytizing the Mormon Missionaries. It was a brief scene but still...funny.
Overall, I found it okay. Wasn't great but it wasn't so bad, either.
Now, I'll watch anything at least once. Typically, from the Mormon films I have seen (which are less than a handful) they use slights as a way of putting their message across to the audience watching: mission work through film. While that element may be in this short, it's probably more of a backdrop than anything so, if you love films and you're another denomination of Christianity or another religion/non-religion, then it shouldn't be a big deal. It's not for me. Most protestant Christian films I've seen (more than a handful) try to force the viewer to accept, from the beginning, that denomination's point-of-view, and any other point-of-view is incorrect which is probably why on websites like this they overwhelmingly get low ratings because everything else (plot, acting, script, direction etc.,) is insignificant to that point-of-view.
Now, I know some would disagree with that but film lovers really only care about coherency. It could be a film made on someone's cell phone and most of us wouldn't care as long as it is coherent and follows through on the plot. Look at El Mariachi (1993) - that cost $7,000 to make in 1993 ($12,000 in 2018 money), and it was coherent and followed through on plot. Technically speaking: it was poorly made but most consider it a great film, including me.
This short film is poorly made but it is coherent and follows through on plot. Now, one major mistake the filmmaker made was the reveal at the end which was revealed (technically) earlier. It was a double reveal. Those are nonsensical. And, if you've seen a lot of similar films in the past then the standard screen vs the widescreen (black and white to color) is also a reveal to the 'twist' or 'a-ha' moment right before the ending. It makes the viewer think that the filmmakers presume we're too stupid to figure it out. I once saw a movie that explained every scene prior to that particular scene. Don't do that. That's insulting the viewer. It was probably done unconsciously but don't do it.
No one likes people bothering them at home whether they be missionaries, salesmen, people running for office, census takers etc., People just don't like it. And, in some neighborhoods: it's quite dangerous. Missionaries trying to solve a mystery of robberies. Frankly, I don't see it but didn't make the film any less. The character of Rick (Mason Davis) as a drug addict - sorry, never once thought he was a drug addict. I was once a drug addict in my youth, and I've known other drug addicts and still know a few and I never thought that Rick was a drug addict. The actor probably should have researched that a bit more, if he did at all. I laughed at the part of the Jehovah Witnesses proselytizing the Mormon Missionaries. It was a brief scene but still...funny.
Overall, I found it okay. Wasn't great but it wasn't so bad, either.
