Joseph Ollman’s short film The Trail is about siblings whose attempt to reconnect on a hike turns into a tense psychological journey.
Martin (Kieran Urquhart) and his estranged sister Sam (Suzy Whitefield) reunite outside of Martin’s home. They share an awkward hug, and Sam pulls out a pack of cigarettes specifically for Martin. The pair drive to their childhood woods to talk and silently remember what had been. As Sam prepares for the hike, Martin looks around, experiencing great unease, which only intensifies with the arrival of a stranger reminding the pair to pay for parking.
On the hike, Martin and Sam attempt in vain to engage in small talk. Martin’s anxiety levels slowly increase and come to a head when he spots the stranger following them. Sensing danger, Martin goes into protection mode for himself and his sister.
“Sensing danger, Martin goes into protection mode for himself and his sister.”
This might be a spoiler, but The Trail is a story about mental health. Martin suffers from an unnamed paranoid psychosis. Director Joseph Ollman effectively uses the camera and Kieran Urguhart’s haunting performance to place us in Martin’s shoes and give us a sense of what goes on in his mind and his emotions about trying to live life every day. We also get a glimpse into the life of family members who care for their troubled siblings.
The Trail is a gripping exploration of mental health, where a simple hike turns into a tense psychological thriller. Joseph Ollman masterfully uses the camera to pull us into Martin’s spiraling paranoia, brought to life by Kieran Urquhart’s haunting performance. It’s a short film that leaves you feeling the weight of unseen struggles and the complexities of family bonds.
"…Ollman masterfully uses the camera to pull us into Martin's spiraling paranoia..."
