Symptoms

Eliza Gibson makes her filmic debut as a writer and director with Symptoms. The nearly 14-minute comedy, co-directed by Todd Eric Valcourt, begins with Eleanor (Pinky Jones) getting lost in some random alley. The lovely lady on the nearby bench, Shirley (Gibson), helps out the businesswoman who has severe bed hair, is bleeding through her pants, and is running later than she realized for an important meeting at her job. After finally getting to the office, Ramona (Frankie Kevich) helps Eleanor clean herself up, but their efforts clog the toilet. What else could go wrong today?

There is a moment near the end that implies destruction of company property and assault of a co-worker that is simply never addressed. It is a little odd given that Symptoms, while slightly heightened for humor’s sake, is more or less set in the real world. The scene following the potential assault feels abrupt because what just happened is not followed up on or discussed. It is awkward, in the worst way.

In Symptoms, Eleanor (Pinky Jones) faces her boss Douchebag Jon (James Austin Kerr) and coworkers Ramona (Frankie Kevich) and another colleague during a tense office moment.

“…severe bed hair, is bleeding through her pants, and is running later than she realized for an important meeting…”

But until then, the short is delightful and silly, and the cast has a lot to do with that. Jones is a lot of fun and has good comedic chops. Kevich plays off of her very well and is fun in her own right. James Austin Kerr is hilarious as the smug and obnoxious boss known as Douchebag Jon (that is how the film credits him).

The dialogue snaps and crackles, such as the “I thought you knew” line. It comes across as natural but also funny. The ever-increasing worsening of Eleanor’s day builds and builds until something must give. The triumphant and joyful feeling accompanying the element that gives in is earned, despite the awkwardness of the assault moment.

Symptoms is funny and empowering. The cast is excellent, and the tone is bouncy and fun. The second-to-last scene jars due to its dark implications, but the ending still works. Overall, Gibson has something to say and does so most comedically with strong actors and a jovial atmosphere.