REMNANTS (2013)

Directed by Tim Szczesniak
Written by Paul Hilburger
Starring Robert Pralgo, Vanelle, Jeff Briggs, Donald Sill, David J. Mack
Check out the trailer here!!

This is a nice end of the world gem filmed on the budgetary low, yet utilizes some themes in a surprisingly mature and patient manner. Comparisons to THE WALKING DEAD are bound to cross one’s mind when checking out REMNANTS. Both are about a group of survivors trying to get by and get along once society has crumbled. Though REMNANTS has nary a zombie to be seen, still the film illustrates how the lack of societal structure chips away at humanity.

If you’re a reader of THE WALKING DEAD comic book, you’ll definitely spot the similarities as a group of survivors wall themselves into a gated community and work together to defend what little civility they have left and ration off the remainder of their food and water supply. Actor Robert Pralgo plays the leader of this makeshift community who not only helps maintain order, but struggles to keep the morals he had before society crumbles. This film takes place during a two-week span, so no one’s gone completely Thunderdome yet, but REMNANTS does a great job of how quickly we might slide into barbarism given the right circumstances.

The screenplay of REMNANTS, though somewhat familiar, is well done, pacing this decline of civilization well and adding in nice bits of character. Most come from Pralgo himself who is charismatic and downright funny in the way he still has the strength to find humor in things and when things get dire, he’s able to act the heavy stuff as well.

The acting from the rest of the cast is less impactful. It appears that mostly non-actors filled out the rest of the cast, and their line delivery is pretty cardboard at times. The exceptions come from nice performances by Vanelle as Pralgo’s wife who does her best Jiminy Cricket reminding Pralgo of his ever-waning humanity.

The ending of REMNANTS is pretty impactful and resonant. Some may have a hard time looking past the amateur acting, but beneath that is a winner of a script and a capable presentation of it. REMNANTS may have its rough edges, but its strength lies in its story.