In Simple Mind, Bob (Timothy J. Cox) recounts an infatuation he has with a woman, Samantha (Kristi McCarson), to his female therapist. At first, we’re given a glimpse of what’s not being said, that he pretty much stalks Samantha and then murders her. As he continues to talk, however, he begins to hide very little and confess his true feelings and actions.
Had the film stopped at the above, and it been just a straightforward look into the mind of a depraved individual, I probably would’ve been pretty “eh” with it. There is a twist near the end, however, that manages to change my interpretation of the entire story, but in a very good way. I won’t reveal it here, but it gives the audience more narrative meat to chew on and keeps the film from being forgettable. Which is saying something, because most film twists I’ve seen have had the opposite effect on me.
The sound could use some work, as much of the spoken word seems to have a hollow sound to it, and the score can be a bit off-putting at times, but it doesn’t entirely detract from the film. And while the film’s unhinged and disturbing vibe is positively enhanced by the creative cinematography, it’s the combination of these visual choices and the performance of Timothy J. Cox as Bob that cements it as uncomfortably creepy. It feels like we’re stuck in Bob’s not-so-private-anymore Hell, which is a really messed-up place to be, especially with him narrating our trip.
This film was submitted for review through our Submission for Review system. If you have a film you’d like us to see, and we aren’t already looking into it on our own, you too can utilize this service.
