Truth.exe Short Film Review
Combining noir filmmaking with fresh camerawork and a dream-like story presents an indie short that is worth watching, but has some take-a-ways that are not fully fleshed out.
What’s It All About
Truth.exe is an indie take on a spy thriller. A young “hacktivist” finds a deep but unknown truth on a USB drive and must upload it to the world. Meanwhile, mysterious forces watch him and follow him at every turn.
My Opinion
Truth.exe, written and directed by Ricky Townsend (who also directed 2019’s Tremble) is a suitable homage to the spy/thriller genre, complete with noir filmmaking, a clandestine, vague approach, and hints at tension and suspense with the use of lingering shadows and mostly over-the-shoulder, facial acting from its lead, G1LL (Felix Elliot). Our protagonist finds a USB drive taped under a table with a fish stenciled on it, with instructions to upload. The rest of the short film (Truth.exe runs at 18 mins) follows this man on his quest.
The mysterious air that inhabits this film—along with its black and white cinematography—carry this film. It’s clear the filmmakers want you to feel a sense of eerie dread and that forces are watching you; they do a good job with the material. Additionally, the film’s noir treatment (Townsend does the photography for the film as well) is really quite good. The film immediately reminded me of Casino Royale, from the music all the way down to the lighting. It’s not easy to make the nighttime seem so fresh, deep, and dark; but here the film allows us to experience it with ease.
Felix Elliot, playing the young man who finds the USB drive also is a high point of the film. He injects an anxious energy into the character which defies his speechless presentation. Elliot must rely on only facial acting and sped-up gaits to portray his feelings to the audience, and he does a good, if not great job in this pursuit. Unknown forces pursue him throughout the film (think Deepthroat from The X-Files or any government conspiracy, and you’ll have an idea of what he’s up against).
Another element about Truth.exe that works is the bizarre, Big Brother-like antagonist the film sets up in a character titled simply ‘The Woman,’ played by Roana Dalziel. She appears on TV screens, computer, screens, projectors, etc.; she discusses philosophical concepts that are at once vague while being direct threats. I found her acting forceful and eerie, and one sequence as she breaks character and shouts delivered a genuine jump-scare. Additionally, her lecture on fish and intelligence, alluding to how ignorance is akin to bliss is appropriate and dead on. Is having no concept of fate or death a better existence? Or does living with this knowledge make us appreciate life better? It’s in the eye of the beholder.
The filmmaking and acting are stellar, the only criticism I have of Townsend’s film is that it lingers on a bit too long, and its ending is vague and may be unfulfilling for some. There are a number of great shots; the use of camera flashes to elicit suspense was wonderful, but the film’s end is vague and illusory, where perhaps a more final closing shot could have been found. The ‘upload’ of the USB material to a message board is meant to be the epitome of finality, but we’re left in the dark of the aftermath.
I write this last bit knowing that perhaps I’m looking into the film too deeply, but included in the file name that G1LL uploads is the word ‘anon,’ which could be a reference to the growing Q-Anon conspiracy, especially since this was also formed on a chat room, but I remain unsure. The film seeks not to answer, but to make you question, which in and of itself is fine.
The Verdict
Truth.exe is a good film, with a direction and cinematography that show skill and promise. Townsend shoots the film well, and Truth.exe features good acting and food for thought. I would have liked to see a bit more of a powerful close; however, the film offers enough good to entice lovers of indie film and noir filmmaking.
