$TACK$

The writer-director Gerald Webb presents how humans tend to behave in case of any emergency caused by the COVID-19 and the underlying twist that gets the audience hooked to $TACK$.

The plot of the short film revolves around unprecedented times that forces two fierce rivals to come face to face for the first time in over a decade to close a deal on the most valuable substance on earth that involves the exchange of a lot of money.

The film opens with a long shot tracking the city along with the thrilling background music as the camera pans into a garage set-up and the combination of black white and blue colour palette of the movie assists the filmmaker to establish the subject matter of the dramatic piece. The cinematographer Thomas Hennessy utilizes dim lighting to provide a sense of tension, mystery, and suspense in minds of the viewers making them eagerly wait for the climax. The dialogues, costume, hair, makeup, and jewelry perfectly complement the mood and also help the audience differentiate between the two gangs of criminals. Despite the film having a running time of 5 minutes, it delivers the key messages to its audience effectively.

In terms of performance, Mark Christopher Laurence plays Hector a gang leader who is hungry for money as he believes that money is the basic requirement for survival. Laurence has brilliant comic timing as being happy for everyone is essential, especially in the post-pandemic days.

Diahnna Nicole Baxter plays the role of Magdalena who is very practical with what he wants to do with the deals and she can even shake hands with a rival when it comes to the well-being of her people. Baxter adds the elegance and glamour necessary for her portrayal as a criminal mob leader.

The chemistry between Diahnna Nicole Baxter and Mark Christopher Laurence does the major emotional uplifting of the film and provides the essence of the drama essential for the movie to get the viewers hooked to the content.

$TACK$ highlights that people should be responsible for the attitudes, assumptions, and judgements buried inside themselves. The emergence of the Covid 19 virus has taught the audience to be majorly self-dependent but also be humble as well as be open to taking help from somebody when in need. $TACK$ has reminded the viewers that the lockdowns have allowed the loved ones to spend time together and ponder upon the best and worst aspects of their personalities and make them better in the future. The short film reiterates the prime focus of life is survival and so the public should always be ready to hassle through hard times, concentrating on their health and happiness. The cinematic piece teaches the viewers that there is set rules as well as limitations even in a rivalry and it needs to be respected at all costs.

I want to appreciate the efforts made by Gerald Webb and the cast and crew for the graceful as well as subtle treatment and execution of such a sensitive topic.