The final story in Exteriors follows Dr. Lesh (Peter Stickles). His client Lex (Pano Tsaklas) is having trouble dating, as the man has baggage that includes a high-profile case involving a gun and a death. Every man he meets looks him up, and things never go too far because of that. That is until Lex meets someone new, Josh (Diogo Hausen). The more Lex confesses about Josh and his fantasies to Dr. Lesh, the more the therapist seems to become obsessed with him. However, that might not be the case because evidence points to Josh being someone close to Dr. Lesh, causing unknown friction between the client and the doctor.
This segment does not work well at all. Lex, realizing something at the end, falls flat because of who Josh turns out to be. Knowing this makes Dr. Lesh’s actions make total sense. This causes the conclusion to be anti-climatic and poorly realized, making this 30-minute story feel pointless. All that is too bad, as this portion of the film features the best music in all three segments (to be fair, I am 99% certain the first one had zero music in it). The music is moody and dramatic, matching what all three people feel in the moment. Stickles is fine, and Tsaklas acutely portrays the uncertainty and fragility of Lex’s emotions. Maybe this should have been a feature unto itself so it could be more fleshed out and make more sense. As it stands, audiences are left wanting.
“…an actor’s showcase…”
As a whole, Exteriors is not big on “show, don’t tell.” It’s almost all dialogue; very little is done with the visuals besides some intimate close-ups. But this does make the anthology an actor’s showcase, and thankfully, everyone delivers. Still, stronger lighting and more dynamic camera movements could help transport viewers into these characters’ headspace instead of just being told about their feelings, wants, and desires.
Overall, Exteriors is a solid drama with dynamic acting and good characterizations. Unfortunately, the final story ends in a big letdown, leaving the whole production on a meh note. But the other two segments are very strong and are worth the 80-minute time investment on their own.
For more information about Exteriors, visit the Diamond In The Rough site.
"…Mark Schwab bucks trends..."
