COVID forced citizens to stay locked in their homes with their sworn adversaries. The results brought people together, but not so much in David Ferino’s feature Wardcliffe.
Father and son Dennis (Joel McKinnon Miller) and Robbie (Shane Coffey) Irwin are one such pair forced to live together in the early days of the COVID pandemic. Dennis attempts to mend fences with Robbie, who became estranged after the death of the family matriarch, Rebecca (Ann Hagemann), long ago. Living in his father’s home, ashamed, Robbie is forced into this situation. He is on probation, unable to legally drive a car, and has burned almost every bridge, including with his ex-girlfriend, Lexi (Gloria Cole).
A recovering alcoholic himself, Dennis makes every attempt possible to mend his relationship with Robbie. He continues to attend meetings for support. Like any good father, Dennis is concerned about Robbie’s lax adherence to COVID policies and the empty bottles of booze in his son’s bedroom. He is also heartbroken over Robbie’s belligerent attitude toward him. After a forced visit to Rebecca’s grave, the two finally have it out.
“…father and son Dennis…and Robbie…are one such pair forced to live together in the early days of the COVID pandemic.”
The stories that came out of COVID-19 are amazing and heartbreaking. In Wardcliffe, writer/director David Ferino masterfully plays with audience loyalties. The first act tells the story of a loving father determined to mend his relationship with his son in recovery. Played perfectly by Joel McKinnon Miller, our loyalties are with Dennis from the start. Meanwhile, Shane Coffey skillfully transitions Robbie’s character from an addict to someone more sympathetic.
As our story heads into the second and third acts, the tension builds to a truly rollercoaster-type conclusion. Spoilers prevent me from saying more. Because it’s set during lockdowns, filmmaker Ferino gets the most out of his two-bedroom home location. It’s crucial that, as the story progresses, we gradually understand why Dennis and Robbie are at odds with one another and how sympathy and status shift, building to a powerful crescendo in the film’s final moments.
Wardcliffe is a gripping reminder of the complex dynamics that surface when past wounds and present circumstances collide. David Ferino skillfully balances tension and empathy, anchored by stellar performances from Joel McKinnon Miller and Shane Coffey. This father-son drama is as much a reflection on personal redemption as it is a suspenseful character study, making it an absolute must-watch.
"…COVID forced citizens to stay locked in their homes with their sworn adversaries."
