The Fits

This mysterious and intriguing indie will probably only appeal to a certain slice of viewer, especially those that don't need the plot elements of a film to all fit neatly together. I usually like my movies to have decent resolutions to any questions raised, but this movie kept me interested throughout its sparse 1 hr. and 12 min. time frame.

Royalty Hightower is exceptional in her starring role here as 11-year- old Toni, who's training for boxing at a Cincinnati community center with her older brother Jermaine (De'Sean Minor), who is employed there. When Toni sees an acclaimed dance team training at the center she joins them, but has trouble fitting in due her her shyness. She will eventually bond with another new young dancer Beezy, very ably played by Alexis Nesblett.

Soon however, things become very strange, as several of the older girls begin to get seizure-like symptoms, labeled "the fits". No one can seem to find the cause of these fits, and this causes chaos amongst the dance team.

Overall, this film's strengths are the natural acting of the cast and its very creepy atmospherics. However, don't expect any character development or entire resolutions to the plot machinations. Also, I would say Anna Rose Holmer, who is making her major motion picture debut as writer and director, shows good promise here, and I'd certainly be interested in seeing what else she brings to the screen.

Independent Director Anna Rose Holmer (Producer of Jody Lee Lipes' "Ballet 422"), along with writer Saela Davis, present a female coming of age project filled with few words, yet provocative in meaning and intention. The cast is filled with real life youth Cincinnati drill team members, featuring strong raw performances by Toni (Royalty Hightower), her cool brother Donte (Antonio A.B. Grant Jr.), and the lovable Breezy (Alexis Noblest), all who are trying to find their way in a society that has forgotten about them. Because dialogue is at a minimum here, with individual performances driving the film and dialogue delivery at times amateur, the viewing audience must make what they will out of the vague storyline presented. Unfortunately, this lazy-faire direction by Holmer leaves the film with spurts of boredom. However, when the viewing experience is over, one can't help but want to speak to someone about what was just presented. Is "The Fits" about the desire to fit in, the epidemic currently playing out in Flint Michigan, about bonding at all costs, or something completely else? While the film may be garnering a lot of attention, I heard more "C" ratings than "A" ratings at the screening I attended (including mine), and many film attendees (again including myself) were left with more questions than the film answered.

'THE FITS': Three and a Half Stars (Out of Five)

Low-budget indie drama, that was a huge hit with critics last year. It's about an 11-year-old tomboy that's really struggling to fit into a girls' dance troupe, when the girls begin to suffer from an unexplained epidemic of seizure like fits. The film was co-written and directed by Anna Rose Holmer, in her feature film debut, and it stars newcomer Royalty Hightower. The movie was made on a budget of just $168,000 and it still managed to become one of the best reviewed films of last year (with critics). I enjoyed it, but obviously not as much as most of the critics have.

Toni (Hightower) is an 11-year-old girl, living in Cincinnati, who trains regularly at a Community Center boxing gym, with her brother Jermaine (Da'Sean Minor). One day she notices a girls' dance troupe practicing at the same gym, and she decides she might want to join them. After her brother talks her into it, Toni attends tryouts for the team. As she then attempts to fit in with the other girls, they randomly begin having unexplained violent fits, and it appears some sort of an epidemic is occurring!

The film starts out like a coming-of-age urban drama, and then it morphs into something else. There definitely appears to be a lot of symbolism going on in it, for real life problems and issues, but I'm not sure what the point of the whole movie is. Still, it is really well shot and acted. I'll admit it's definitely a well made movie, I guess I'm just not the right audience member to quite understand it all.

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The Fits, is a deeply surreal film and it should be viewed by everyone. We recommend this one to the black community and everyone around the world. Anna Rose Holmer expresses real-life issues evolving around young girls and teenage girls, it draws young girls and people in to think. The acting, the dance, and the lead child star: Royalty Hightower was electrifying. Royalty Hightower is beautiful and amazing in this story. Beautifully shot modern film. It shares a message for all girls to fight and dance in what you believe in to be you no matter the circumstances in life. Stay strong. It's one of those modern black films that we never seen before and there's no other like it. This one is different and expresses impressive emotional art. Audiences that disliked this film just didn't find the time to understand it. The Fits is a must watch. Thanks to Anna and Royalty and the entire cast for make The Fits possible. Looking forward in seeing Royalty Hightower in more films. Anna Rose Holmer continue creating stories that inspire and would love to see Royalty Hightower in more of them.

This brief feature film debut from Anna Rose Holmer is among the most interesting and enjoyable independent films of 2016. At first, the film was a bit slow and didn't seem to be going anymore, but once the plot kicked in I was very pleased. After watching the entire film, I am grateful for the slow build up because of its moodiness and great introduction to the characters and setting. The only reason the slow moving atmosphere is a flaw in my eyes is because I thought that the whole film was going to be that plot less, and that, in the end, it would have had no climax, conflict, etc. But it does have a climax, and it does have a conflict. At its core, the film is a powerful little tale about fitting in. Its charming, beautifully filmed, and at times ingeniously unsettling.

The only real flaw was how wooden some of the child actors were. At times, certain performances kind of ruined the film's realistic vibe.However, the characters were likable and their struggles were well executed and written enough for these performances not to completely ruin the experience. But, other than that this was a really impressive little film debut that really has me believing that this first time filmmaker will be going places!