Ivan Kander
Yeah, I know…another “post apocalyptic” narrative. *Sigh*…I’m tired of these too. But, what director Jeremy Robbins’s short film lacks in aesthetic originality, it more than makes up for in solid execution. A tonally precise thriller that is both taut and emotionally rewarding, Aftermath is the kind of thing that grabs you from the moody opening scene and doesn’t really let go until the credits roll.
Aftermath works because it’s not just about the milieu—too many post apocalyptic tales care more about the grungy aesthetic then they do the characters. And, while Robbins’s production feels suitable dirty, cold, and bleak (i.e. think John Hillcoat’s The Road) it stands out because, at its core, it’s a film about brothers. The central relationship that drives the short feels real and well developed—the universal ups and downs of brotherly love/hate are transplanted from suburbia to post apocalyptic tundra. Aftermath asks the question: what if you had to deal with your annoying kid brother even after the world has gone to hell?
The film’s realistic depiction of brotherhood—even amongst a highly stylized backdrop—was inspired by director Robbins’s own childhood. As he relates via e-mail: “As the oldest of three brothers, I got an early start at directing—ordering my brothers Ethan and Noah in make-believe sword fights in our basement. In many ways, this film is an extension of those childhood adventures.”
But, the film’s connection with his family doesn’t stop there: Robbins also cast his youngest brother, Noah, to star in the film. The personal nature of this choice definitely shows up on screen—the protagonist’s journey from childhood to manhood is etched out across the short’s 19 minute runtime in a way that is quite effecting.
The film was shot over two weeks in January 2012. Robbins and his crew battled a brutal Vermont winter out on the frozen waters of Lake Champlain to bring his apocalyptic ice vision to life. Fortunately, we can benefit from their cinematic suffering—Aftermath is a solid post-apocalyptic thriller that recognizes the importance of character in order to make the brutality of its setting resonate.