Trip Report by a Psychonaut

Trip Report by a Psychonaut centres around two friends who are experimenting with drugs in their house. The piece is divided into chapters and begins as a ‘hangout movie’ with a rather aimless objective, leaving the viewer uncertain of its direction. Suddenly, the narrative slowly descends into something much more sinister and challenging as both characters are confronted with paranoia and a drug-fueled trip into terror.

Something that becomes immediately apparent within the film’s creative opening titles is the emphasis on psychedelic imagery, which pervades the sequences of drug use. These scenes in particular are incredibly hypnotic and dreamlike, giving the viewer a sense of what the characters are experiencing. The musical score begins as understated, alongside scenes of dialogue between the central characters; however, it is later utilised to build tension throughout the sequences of horror and is almost reminiscent of John Carpenter’s Halloween score. Both central performances from Toluwa Banjo and Mycle Scheuer are endearing, and their chemistry plays well off each other to create a sense of the found family trope, which makes it easy to connect with both characters. The comedic elements are also compelling and aid the film's moments of no direct narrative push, making the jarring tonal shift even more powerful.

Another vital standout of the piece is the visuals, which are astoundingly awe-inspiring given the minimal budget they had to play with. The VFX creates a hypnotic feeling for the viewer due to the sweeping array of colours and hallucinatory imagery that occupies the frame. Particular imagery displayed within sequences of horror is profoundly unsettling, and the musical score intertwined alongside this effectively creates tension. The use of tracking and low-key lighting is another formal standout that amplifies the sense of paranoia that looms over both characters.

Visual storytelling is another engaging tool that further elevates the narrative to its closing moments. While the narrative is consistently engrossing, given how different each chapter feels, the pacing can often be stagnant, and the lack of characterisation for both characters is a detriment to the experience, with a lack of emotional resonance for their fates. Although specific character motivations come across as absurd, their drive to be a psychonaut makes the viewer question where the narrative is exactly taking them, as it is relatively grounded outside of the dreamlike state they conquer with frequent drug use. However, it is astounding that the filmmakers effectively created a consistent sense of dread and disturbing imagery to keep the viewer on the edge of their seat. Utilising a mix of dreamy photography can become disorienting, but this constructively plays well into the point of view of the characters and makes it a visceral endeavour into the mind of a drug-fueled individual.

Trip Report by a Psychonaut is a disorienting experience which slowly begins as a quirky experiment between two friends, which abruptly ascends into a horrific display of hallucinogenic visuals and a remarkably unsettling tonal redirection. Aided by two delightful central performances from Mycle Scheuer and Toluwa Banjo, the piece successfully creates a level of tension that is unforgettable, with a fantastic musical score to culminate its technical expertise.