Writer-director Juliana Rodriguez’s Not From Here drops you into a mystery without a compass to guide you. Disorientation is on the menu today.
Sky (Sarah Olsen) is found barely conscious, locked inside her car, beaten, and unable to help herself. She is awakened by her mother (Karen Edwards), who is pounding on the door; when Sky is unable to respond, she calls 911. Later, Sky’s mother brings her back to bed. Sky can barely speak as her mother sits with her, desperate for answers, but Sky isn’t giving much.
When Officer Williams (Serge Usicov) arrives to take a statement, the room quickly divides. Sky’s mother accuses Sky’s boyfriend Carlo — a man from Mexico she’s never trusted — of being responsible for the beating. She doesn’t stop there, bringing up Sky’s history with drugs and demanding she go to rehab. Sky’s sister Celeste (Ashley Hinkle) pushes back hard, insisting Carlo would never do this. The officer finally cuts through the noise and asks Sky directly: what happened, and who did this to her? Sky’s answer stops everyone cold…it was aliens.
“Sky’s mother accuses Sky’s boyfriend Carlo — a man from Mexico she’s never trusted — of being responsible for the beating.”
I love it. Not From Here has those ultra-low budget DIY production values. With all its flaws and stiff acting, this story is driven by sheer grit and determination. What starts as a story of domestic abuse soon morphs into what might be either psychotic hallucinations or an actual alien conspiracy.
Rodriguez doesn’t have the Spielbergian Disclosure Day budget to answer the big question, but who wants answers? Conspiracy alone fuels this production. That right there is worth sixteen minutes of your time.
Not From Here can be streamed on YouTube.
"…conspiracy alone fuels this production."
