bob the moo
Four men are in the back of a van with bags over their heads. They are released in a field by two armed men. Two of the men run off in separate directions only for a device on their ankle to arm then trigger, blowing their leg in half and leaving them at the mercy of the two armed men to finish off. Seeing this, one of the two remaining men (Jake) tries to ensure that the same does not happen to him.Proximity has what most short films needs, which is a great central idea which hooks you in very quickly. In this case it is the threat of death and the urgency of Jake that does it and although we do not understand the whys, the action still has good pace and keeps you involved. The cinematography is shaky but clear – it is a well used device to add urgency and excitement into the image but it is still an effective one and it mostly works here. In some ways the short and folded-in scenario helps the film be this way but on the other hand it would have been better with a bit more detail and finesse in the idea.So, for example, with four men, this "game" will almost always end with people with no legs within 100m of the truck – it is just by chance that in Jake's case his partner isn't one of the ones that run off, and I guess this is the minority of cases. The same lack of finesse is at the end of the film too because, without any context, it really doesn't mean anything other than that the writers couldn't come up with something that worked better. It still is worth a look because it is pretty tight and engaging in the way it feels urgent and tightly paced, but it really did need a bit more detail and fine-tuning around the edges to make it work better.
Joseph Alexander
'Proximity' is a short film, directed and produced by Ryan Connolly and co-written with Seth Worley. In it, an unknown organisation pits people against each other in a brutal game of cat and mouse. This short was fantastic. It's visually stunning, and the dialogue is excellent. Todd Bruno and Josh Connolly both deliver strong performances as Jake and Luke, as do the other actors in their various roles. When it comes down to it, what you've got here is a short film with a reasonably original plot that was written in only a couple of days. You've got fast paced action, you've got great acting performances from all involved, you've got visual dynamite and finally, you've a director who definitely deserves a shot at Hollywood.If that summary above appeals to you, then watch this film, it's only 10 minutes out of your life, and you will not regret it. 8/10Joseph
makar-kirikov
"Proximity" has a very interesting concept, as well as a good execution. It is set in a world which reminds me of "The hunger games" but still manages to be original and fresh. I would like to see an expansion of this idea and this world, perhaps in the form of a mini series or even a feature film. "Proximity" has decent acting, good visuals and narrative story telling as well as a thrilling build up with a quick, but satisfying resolution.Proximity is a good example of the work that Ryan Conolly is expected to produce. Low budget, yet high quality, made very quickly, yet is seems like the film had more production value than it actually had. Compared to his other two short films "Tell" and "Losses" I would say that "Proximity" is a step forwards in many directions. Even though I feel like "Tell" was written and directed better than this film (due to the long time spent on the making of "Tell" compared to the 10 days of production for "Proximity") it is still a strong standing independent project, which is worth checking out.
Mackenzie Criswell
This film is the perfect example of a no budget film that was only possible through the effort of people who are amazing at what they do. One of the best short films I have ever seen. Great for anyone who wants to be a filmmaker. This film was made after the budget for Ryan Connolly's last short film fell through. But rather than give up, he made this short film with the people and equipment that were already down to help him. Not only because of the fact that it was written and filmed so quickly, and still has a nice flowing and interesting storyline, but also because of the fact that this film is so inspiring to the audience of aspiring filmmakers it was directed towards; I am giving this film 9 stars out of 10, for being a work of art!