Burglaries Have Consequences

Burglaries Have Consequences

Bruce Von Stiers

A guy is burglarizing an apartment. His partner is outside the apartment being the lookout. But they are observed. Things go downhill from there. That is the thrust of a crime thriller short film titled In The Backseat.

Jeff is the guy in the apartment, while John is out in the hallway. But one of the neighbors' figures something is going on. He gets ahold of Kevin, whose apartment Jeff is ransacking.

Through a series of intercut scenes, Jeff is abducted, and Kevin is shown to be a bit stoned and paranoid. The two women with Kevin, Kim and Amy, are trying to get him settled down but aren't very successful. Nobody can agree on what to do with Jeff and how much money he stole from Kevin or how to get it back.

By the time the film ends, the reason for the theft is revealed and there are incidences of violence that are irreversible.

The film has some jittery camera motions that simulate someone's vision as they scramble down a hallway and out in a wooded area. Once considered too amateurish, this type of filming is being used more and more.

Seamus McMahon plays Jeff. Ryan Keem plays John. His previous film credits include Debbie And The Devil and Mom Fight.

Vince DeGaetano plays Kevin. He starred It's All Good and Augmented. Sierra Buffum plays Kim. She starred in the horror short film, Sonday. Ali McGarel plays Amy. Her previous films include starring in the short drama films Georgia and I'd Know You Forever.

Mike Respeto plays Kenny, the neighbor who rats out Jeff and John. He appeared in Voodoo Macbeth and co-starred in Triple Love.

Mike Cox, Nick Bernthal and Lauren Nitto also appear in this film as strangers. Cammy Ylo also appeared in the film as a stranger. She was also behind the camera as an assistant director.

The film was written and directed by Harry Waldman. He's directed other short thriller films such as In The Room and Bay For Blood.

Lance Eliot Adams was the cinematographer. He was the cinematographer for Bay For Blood and Enter The Room.

In The Backseat was a bit different than I expected. The synopsis seemed to indicate a crime spree. But there was only one apartment burglary. Maybe there were supposed to be more burglaries but Kevin being abducted probably put an end to that.

The story was a bit off-center, but I think it was supposed to be. Jeff and John aren't very adept at this burglary thing. And Kevin is so high that his paranoia is causing him to do stupid and dangerous things. And Kim and Amy seem clueless on how to reign Kevin in.

In The Backseat is currently making the film festival circuit. A couple of weeks ago, it was nominated for Best Mystery/Suspense/ Thriller Film at the Alternative Film Festival.

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