How To Save Us

How To Save Us is a fascinating and mysterious exploration of the paranormal, teetering on the edge of reality and the supernatural. It's a 2014 American film directed, written, and produced by Jason Trost. Along with Trost himself, the film also stars Tallay Wickham and Coy Jandreau.

The movie deviates from the typical narrative framework and spirals through multiple genres, with an emotionally-arresting backdrop that ropes you in from the start. From thrillers and ghost stories to dramas and survival movies, How To Save Us navigates through different cinematic territories while maintaining a unique aura of its own.

Jason Trost portrays Brian Everett, a character isolated and handsomely wrapped in motivation, driven by absolute desperation and persistence - a persistence to unearth the mystery surrounding his younger brother Sam, played by Coy Jandreau. The two Everett brothers, polar in characteristics, construct a riveting narrative of bonding, hardships, and unshaken determination. Tallay Wickham appears as a ghost tracker, whose storyline coincides with that of Brian's journey, adding up to the enigmatic ambiance throughout the film.

The movie is set in Tasmania. First, it acquaints us with the concept of "Phantom Islands." As per this, an island exists for a few and is invisible to others. Brian believes his brother Sam is trapped on one such Phantom Island, following a deadly virus that secluded Tasmania from the rest of the world. Amid the eerie, post-apocalyptic Tasmania, Trost beautifully captures the desolation that threatens the adrift character, clashing with Brian's unwavering willpower to reconnect with his brother.

There’s no conventional presentation of a ghost in How To Save Us. Instead, the film unspools a dense, unseen presence that is possibly more intimidating as it taps into the fundamental human fear of the unknown. With this decision, Trost ensures that the paranormal elements are felt rather than seen, carving in a unique approach to the ghost-story genre.

The imagery in the film is both invitingly remarkable and hauntingly desolate. Its impressive cinematography dwells in the liminal space between familiarity and uncanniness. Tasmania's deserted landscapes, empty houses, and abandoned vehicles lay bare a world that screams disaster, eliciting a unnerving feel for what once was.

The film, through its narrative and technical excellence, explores fear and hope, love and loss, strength, and surrender. The dynamic between the Everett brothers provides the heartbeat of the movie and their shared past along with current struggles underline the crux of the film - survival.

Understanding the language of the film may pose a challenge as cryptic radio messages, static TV screens, and other non-traditional methods of communication come with the package. However, the subtle use of visual cues and symbols gives viewers enough to connect the dots.

How To Save Us strays away from knee-jerk scares and ventures into an unsettling atmosphere of suspense that intensifies as the story progresses. It dives deep into the root of human emotions and unexpectedly draws out warmth from the icy cold terror it sets.

The subtext within the film is strikingly palpable, instigating viewers to seep in further into the narrative that deals with human relationships, sacrifice, and an overhanging dread.

The performances are potent, with Jason Trost embodying the despair and determination of his character with admirable intensity. Tallay Wickham's portrayal of a ghost tracker is both somberly stoic and vulnerable, equally matched by Coy Jandreau's passive-yet-essential role, standing as a symbolic representation of belief and survival where life seems to have stopped.

The soundtrack is duly atmospheric and gathers strength as the movie advances. With its bone-chilling setting, emotional depth, and narrative innovation, How To Save Us carves a place for itself within the annals of independent films.

Though not your traditional horror flick, How To Save Us delivers on suspense and engages viewers through its eeriness and melancholy. The film is a bold, complex, and creatively desolate canvass dripping with paradoxical dread and hope. It evokes a captivating sense of impending doom, yet never fails to keep sparking the flames of survival and love.

It is a thought-provoking, multi-genre indie film that deserves attention, especially for those who appreciate nuanced storytelling and exploring the psychological underbelly of human existence in times of crisis. Above all, How To Save Us is a potent reminder of how cinema can inventively experiment to create something strikingly novel, which leaves the audience hanging on the edge, yet wanting more.