Everything’s Gonna Be Okay is a short film about two people backpacking through the desert who stop to face the reality of a dire situation.
Have you ever hurt yourself a little bit and sort of shook it off knowing deep down you ought to take care of it more but instead ignored it, hoping it’ll just go away, like somehow if you don’t think about it, then it’s not as serious as it really is? Maybe not, but I know I have, believing that anything really bad only happens to ‘other people.’ That kind of mentality lies at the center of Matt Soson‘s deeply disturbing short film Everything’s Gonna Be Okay, a 15-minute slice of psychological quicksand that toys with a number of genre expectations before flipping them right up on their heads.
Set entirely on the high crest of a dusty ridge in the wide open expanse of a seemingly limitless barren landscape, two hikers, a young woman (Erika Soto) and her boyfriend (Soson) come to a stop. He’s unable to walk any further, an incident early something he should have attended too now caught up with him and slowly overtaking him. Nearly two days out from the road and with no phone service between them, they must face a new reality, and quickly make a plan to save them both.
As with most films of this size and immediacy, saying much more would edge all too closely to spoilers, but suffice to say that Soson, who wears just about all the hats one can when making a film, isn’t playing by the rules. In fact, even as you think you’ve got his story figured out, he spins you right back around again. It’s maddeningly compelling, especially as you play this mini-game of ‘what would I do?’ as you watch these two try and solve their dilemma. I can tell you right now, you won’t get close to what Soson has in store when he gets to his jaw-dropping end.
What really works best about this gripping little nightmare is its harrowing authenticity, with Sosan and Soto packing big punches in their performances, the two so convincing, it almost hurts to see them struggle. Smartly-written as well, Sosan and cinematographer Jay Kaufman constantly sweep in and out of their predicament with gorgeous wide angle images that bookend tight desperate close-ups, making their isolation like a slowly smothering weight on their backs. It’s jarring stuff well worth seeking out for a look. So much so, you might want to reconsider that backpacking trip and stick to nice adventure book.