Rasheed Stephens directs, stars in, and co-wrote Lost in the Moment. Jaden (Stephens) is a struggling artist whose wife, Sydney (Mariel Suarez) is concerned about their finances and his career future. They are not getting along. One night when Jaden comes home late she confronts him and an argument ensues resulting in Sydney leaving. When Jaden follows her out, they scuffle and she is hit by a car after pulling away from him and stumbling into the street. She is left in a vegetative state, and Jaden is wracked with guilt and grief. He seeks help from his sister, Trish (Vivia E. Armstrong), who moves in to take care of him.
As he is spiraling into disaster, he encounters a local dealer called Hustle Man (Aeriel Capo Ventrano) who gives him a taste of a new formulation of weed he says is guaranteed to help him sleep. It works as advertised, but in his sleeping mind he talks to his wife. He believes he’s actually communicating with her, despite the coma.
“… a dealer gives him a taste of a new drug guaranteed to help him sleep …”
In another stoned vision, he finds himself taking advice from a man named Brad (Eric Roberts). Roberts has adopted a “never say no” policy for appearing in films, so he’s all over current low / no budget indie offerings. It’s becoming a charming comfort in unknown indies to see Roberts show up in a cameo, offer a few words of wisdom, and then vanish. It’s a neat trick, and hopefully he will keep it up.
Jaden is sliding into addiction, but insists on repeating the drugs, which are sending him into a deteriorating mental state. He lies to his sister about what’s going on, and begins selling household items to buy the drug. He loses his ability to discern the hallucinations from reality as he continues the drug, desperate to stay in contact with Sydney.
Stephens has created a compelling drama in Lost in the Moment, with very few resources on hand. The budget is micro, but the story is big enough to take up the available space. The most significant contributor to this accomplishment is the stellar performance from Stephens, himself. Mariel Suarez in the supporting role of Sydney creates the perfect framing for Jaden’s long, slow, slide into hell. The gritty, grainy cinematography and lighting actually enhance the sense of decay and Jaden’s disintegration as he slips into madness.
"…a long, slow, slide into hell"
