Todd

The synopsis of Todd tells us that the titular lead is a man who always felt like the “odd man out” and who was ridiculed from an early age until all those feelings swell with rage as an adult. The poster design reinforces this theme with the image of shower glass and his name drawn in blood. The actual film, though, reflects none of that. While certainly odd, we are led to believe that the impetus of Todd’s anger is the fact that both his parents were recently killed in a car crash, leaving him with a meager, dwindling inheritance. But even that does not seem to match up with his behavior.

When we first encounter Todd (Hans Hernke), we can certainly see there is something “off.” He does not read social cues well at all, is belligerent with the slightest personal interaction, and goes through a series of tics that suggest a form of Autism. His behaviors are certainly socially awkward, but more of someone with a developmental disability and not what either the synopsis of lifelong bullying or the plotline of dead parents would suggest.

He pays regular visits to psychiatrist Dr. Miller (Aaron Jackson), who appears either, at best, indifferent to Todd’s mannerisms or, at worst, unable to diagnose him with something greater. Instead, Dr. Miller dismissively tells Todd to change medication and get a job.

“…Dr. Miller dismissively tells Todd to change medication and get a job.”

Returning from one particularly ineffectual therapy session, Todd slams into a woman on the street. Amy (Laura Stetman) is a local waitress who was window shopping when she and Todd collide. He proceeds to berate her for her carelessness, despite her repeated attempts to shower apologies.

Amy takes further pity on him when Todd later appears at her restaurant, offering to buy his meal, but Todd dismissively only orders water while taking up an entire booth (for anyone who has worked in food service, having one person take an entire booth and drink only water during lunchtime rush is like taking money directly from your wallet).

And instead of giving us time to understand or have even the slightest emotional connection with Todd, the script, by director Aaron Warren and Jim Catizone, sends us one episodic scene after the next with no connective tissue. We spend time in the bar with Dr. Miller, apparently only to give some screentime for top-billed actor Michael Winslow, who plays the bartender for a total of about 10 minutes. We then venture off with Amy for a while as she makes bad decisions with sleazy, ill-intentioned men.