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Directed by David Stokes and Iain Cash
Starring Rhiannon Jones, Iain Cash
Short Film Review by Evie Brudenall
Trust. It’s hard to acquire but so easily broken. A notion that co-directors David Stokes and Iain Cash explore so well in their aptly named short Trust.
Upon returning to her car, Amy (Rhiannon Jones) meets Max (Iain Cash) who claims that he shooed away a gang of youths from her car. Max then asks her for a lift to work and she hesitantly complies, plagued by doubts of trusting a complete stranger.
The lessons of not talking to or trusting strangers that we were taught for children are up for review as the same policies no longer apply to the realities of adulthood. Interactions with people that we are unfamiliar with occur on a daily basis and it’s solely up to use to navigate our own responses and reactions. This is something that Trust delves into as Amy is faced with such a predicament by allowing Max into her car. However, she soon starts to regret her choice as she questions some of the things that Max says, including, “It’s like we’re taught to see the worst in people and not the best”. Although it’s a declaration that’s hard to refute, Max’s happy-go-lucky demeanour is enough to arouse suspicion.
The performances from Jones and Cash are convincing and naturalistic but there are a few instances when their acting feels slightly wooden. However, I suspect this is due to editorial choices as opposed to the abilities of the performers as some shots feel haphazardly stitched together in the earlier scenes. As the short progresses, it becomes more confident and assured whilst the film’s ultimate reveal was momentarily satisfying, its moment in the sun lasted all too briefly.
Directors David Stokes and Iain Cash fantastically manage to curate an atmosphere of danger even within the relative safety of a bust car park. All of our instincts are urging Amy to remove herself from the scenario even though there’s nothing overtly suggestive of impending threat. But the filmmakers have clearly played on our vulnerabilities and insecurities to the point where we’re speculative of Max’s intentions from the very beginning.
A simple yet compelling premise, Trust preys on our primal fears and stirs tension and will provoke conversation upon viewing.
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