Directed by Timothy Shea, Pieces of Amy is a psychological thriller that blurs the line between reality and nightmare. The film follows a young addict whose desperate struggle to escape her past collides with visions of a dark spectre that seems to play puppet master to our heroine.
Amy (Shelby Parks) is a young woman tormented by addiction and a vivid, unshakable dream that haunts her every night. In real life, she and her brother Brian (KC Wolf) are desperate to raise $30,000 to clean up their mother’s latest mess.
As Amy scrambles to secure the money, she begins to experience nightmares and visions of a black silhouette relentlessly stalking her—not a person, but something like a spectre of sorts. On a trip with Brian to collect what they hope is a debt owed by a friend, they encounter Erin (Katherine Smith-Rodden), who offers them shelter and an opportunity to make the money they need.
It involves going to a remote cabin and meeting up with Angelo (Stephon Mitchell), a depraved but rich photographer who is taking photos and offering drugs to Amy, Brian, and a group of models—Taylor (Gabby Thomas), Roxy (Isabella Brenza), and Erin—while keeping a go-bag full of drugs and violence at the ready. As Amy partakes in the copious amounts of drugs again, Taylor inserts herself into Amy and Brian’s desperation.
“Amy…is a young woman tormented by addiction and a vivid, unshakable dream that haunts her every night.”
As Amy wanders the grounds, the nightmares she has been having now seem to make sense as figures from her dream show up at the cabin, including the Mexican (Saul Preciado-Garcia), whom she had never met until this time. She also sees the spectre from her dreams, and it appears to be the linchpin to what is about to happen to her and Brian. Can the two survive the night, pay off their mother’s debt and finally discover her whereabouts?
Pieces of Amy is a thrilling indie mystery box that begins with our protagonist, Amy, and her brother, Brian, and slowly reveals its true intentions. As Amy, Shelby Parks holds the film together, giving a strong performance as someone struggling with addiction, suffering from paranoia from her dreams, and fighting to keep it together to hopefully come out on top in the end.
Writer/director Timothy Shea masters the pacing of the mystery, and with quick edits constantly keeps. Add some killer sound design, along with a cast of models and drug dealers, to keep us on the edge of our seats. While there are some special effects for the spectre, Pieces of Amy just shows that thrilling and engaging stories can be told on a small indie budget.
Pieces of Amy closes as a chilling blend of addiction drama and psychological nightmare, where dreams and reality shift before our very eyes. Timothy Shea crafts a tense descent into paranoia and survival, leaving Amy’s fate in uncertain and ungodly hands.
For screening information, visit the Pieces of Amy page at the Nine Seven Entertainment website.
"…a chilling blend of addiction drama and psychological nightmare."
