Blinders

As part of the coverage of the Austin Film Festival, we were able to discover Blinders, The Second Film co-written and directed by Tyler Savage (Inheritance)). It's interesting to see that this festival gives us a wide panorama of the world (especially American) independent cinema and shows us that many low-budget productions deserve our attention as much as the releases of the Hollywood majors, whether in our theaters (most of them are currently closed) or on streaming platforms. Blinders is like a very effective paranoid thriller that will not leave the spectators much time to breathe and above all will surprise them until the final dénouement.

After a difficult break-up, Andy Escobedo decides to make a fresh start by leaving Austin for Los Angeles. Eager to establish new relationships, he befriends Roger, an unusual carpool driver. But when Roger's behavior becomes too strange to comfort him, Andy abandons him, choosing to focus on a budding relationship with Sam. His budding romance is then threatened by Roger's aggressive and disturbing behavior. Between breaking into Andy's apartment, wiretapping and disturbing messages, Roger is going to make Andy's life miserable.

Blinders is in spite of its appearances not just another paranoid thriller because the scenario of Tyler D. Savage and Dash Hawkins plays permanently on false appearances and little by little the character of Andy Escobedo will reveal his true appearance and find himself caught in a real machination. Director Tyler Savage knows how to use the city of Los Angeles to deliver a vision of a sprawling city in which danger can be omnipresent. Whether in a park in the heights of this city or in the most ordinary streets, the director knows how to breathe real vitality into his film and trap the spectators by not showing them all the necessary information. By alternating images filmed on the phone of his main character Andy Escobedo or in the traditional full-screen way, Tyler Savage delivers a gripping story and shows that independent cinema has undeniable attractions.

We will also appreciate the presence in one of the important secondary roles of the actress Christine ko (series Upload, Dave, Hawaii 5-0) who brings by her presence an undeniable sensual touch to this film. In the same way the director finds here the actor Vincent Van Horn whom he had also directed in his first film.

Certainly one of our favorite films of the official selection of the Austin Film Festival, Blinders deserves to be more widely distributed worldwide as its artistic qualities are numerous.

Blinders
Directed by Tyler Savage
Produced by J.P. Castel, Dash Hawkins, Daniel Pisano, Tyler Savage
Written by Tyler D. Savage, Dash Hawkins
Starring Christine Ko, Vincent Van Horn, Michael Joplin, Paula Jai Parker, Carla Valentin
Music by Devin Johnson
Cinematography: Antonio Cisneros
Edited by Jeremy Edwards
Running time: 86 minutes

Seen on October 25, 2020 (online access Austin Film Festival)

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