The Current State of the Backyard Pool Industry

The Current State of the Backyard Pool Industry follows the Osgood family, who are divided over the fate of their rundown pool, due to a costly repair that may force them to shut it down. However, when a strange visitor named Willy Chamieux (David Amadio) attempts to convince the Osgoods to take one last plunge in the pool, they must decide whether their family togetherness is worth the price of this dilemma.

The central theme of the piece is the importance of family and their connection to the backyard pool, which feels like a metaphorical allegory for reconnecting a fractured bond. Derek Frey, the director of the piece, clearly set out to blur the line between surrealism and a music video, utilising an excellent, choreographed dance sequence. Also serving as the cinematographer, the short consists primarily of medium and over-the-shoulder shots in its dialogue-heavy sequences, which maintain the intimate and engaging flow of the piece. Klebe & Davis, a two-man band from Florida, serve as the composers of the piece, delivering an endearing musical score that perfectly accompanies the experience. Despite the film's budget constraints, the opening title card is incredibly creative and drives the viewer into the world of the Osgood family. While the film can suffer from some jarring editing choices and a bizarre tonal shift, the filmmakers clearly have their heart in the right place with a distinct passion for the material. The piece starts rather sluggish in its pacing; however, once the central plot line is introduced, the experience picks up drastically and becomes far more engrossing.

One of the biggest detriments to the experience is the lack of chemistry between the Osgood family. While the younger actors are clearly expressing their disinterest in the pool earnestly, their line delivery unfortunately feels wooden and unnatural. The lead performance from Gil Damon in his portrayal of Henry Osgood, however, is mostly impressive and a deeply nuanced depiction of a father struggling with his inner turmoil. Both the comedic and dramatic beats land thanks to Gil Damon’s goofy and naturalistic delivery of dialogue. The film entirely rests on his screen presence and his actions being the driving force of the central plot points. Despite the narrative being fairly straightforward and simplistic in its ideas, the filmmakers never spoon-feed the audience, allowing them to decipher their own interpretations about certain plot elements, which is refreshing.

Unfortunately, the conclusion to the narrative amounts to fairly minor despite its uplifting intent; the payoff sadly feels underwhelming thanks to how abruptly everything wraps up. Perhaps the screenplay could have fleshed out its themes of family and emphasis on water more profoundly to stick the landing. That being said, it's still a mostly satisfying experience thanks to how intimate and grounded in scale this feels despite its absurd nocturnal elements throughout.

The Current State of the Backyard Pool Industry is a mostly entertaining short piece entirely held together by a solid lead performance from Gil Damon and Derek Frey’s formalism. Despite its pitfalls with the disappointing lack of chemistry between the supporting players, the piece feels like a passion project made with a profound love for the subject matter and characters that shine through its cracks.