Outerlands
Elana Oxman tenderly touches upon themes of isolation and trauma within debut feature Outerlands. Set in a gentrified San Francisco, the plot centres around Cass (Asia Kate Dillon), who works as a babysitter whenever they’re not waiting tables to scrape together enough money for rent that they can barely afford. After a one-night stand with fellow server Kalli (Louise Krause), Cass is hired to look after her 11-year-old daughter, Ari (Ridley Asha Bateman), while she heads out of town. When Kalli doesn’t pick up her phone, Cass begins to worry if the youngster has been abandoned, which triggers painful memories from their own childhood.
The greatest strength of Oxman’s film is the subtlety of the writing. The filmmaker never spells out exactly what happened to Cass during their youth or what kind of problems Ari has with her mother. Everything viewers need to know is conveyed through small hints which gradually paint a bigger picture over time. Dillon is excellent in this regard, their silent reactions often speak more than words could manage. Bateman likewise gives a consistently strong performance, though the chemistry between the characters is underdeveloped and is subsequently unable to deliver the intended emotional impact that some scenes aim for.
Cass is already socially withdrawn at the start of the film. They regularly decline invites for after-work drinks, instead preferring to drink alone. There’s rarely a scene where they don’t have a drink in their hand, with this becoming a bigger problem as their childhood memories begin to bubble up. Moreover, they lose themselves more and more within an old NES game that’s about an astronaut finding their way back to the mothership. It’s something that holds significant meaning to Cass and becomes a poignant metaphor for depression and self-discovery as they struggle to find their own place within the world. As with the burgeoning connection between Cass and Ari, this idea also feels underutilised and results in a conclusion that comes across as somewhat rushed as a result.
Outerlands is a thoughtfully written feature that navigates delicate issues surrounding mental health and loneliness. Dillon’s subdued performance captures the essence of Oxman’s script. However, the lack of development of key points ultimately dampens the feature’s overall impact.
Andrew Murray
Outerlands does not have a release date yet.
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