Irina Wirjan
Moving in with your partner is a big step in any relationship, as it often serves as a true test of compatibility. It’s one thing to love someone, but can you actually live with them? The couple in Eric Kissack’s sci-fi comedy, The Move, are ready to find out, but their relationship faces an unexpected challenge when they stumble upon a mysterious portal in their new apartment.
Humor flows naturally from the scenario Kissack creates, which is no surprise given his previously featured films (The Gunfighter & Blessing in Disguise) were both top-notch comedies. The casting of real-life couple Dustin Milligan and Amanda Crews as Todd and Kate adds an extra dynamic to their effortless opposites-attract chemistry. The contrast between Todd’s panic, as he tries to rationalize his way to a practical solution, while Kate playfully experiments with the portal’s magic (which laughably only teleports five feet away) creates an inherently funny situation. Like all outstanding films of the genre, the jokes are not only excellent and well-paced, but also symptomatic of something deeper.
Dustin Milligan (L) and Amanda Crews star in Eric Kissack’s short film The Move
All that levity quickly gives way to serious conversation as Kate sees Todd for what he really is – a coward. In confronting him, she unravels how his anxieties have stunted not only their growth as a couple but also himself as a person. Their fight takes on a dizzying quality as she steps through the portal, disappearing then reappearing over and over, perfectly capturing the exhausting repetition and circular nature of the most frustrating arguments. Underneath the absurdity of it all, Kissack digs deep into the differences between those driven by fear and those by curiosity.
“We have to either accept that this is the new reality”
“Every time something truly insane happens that upends my life… like a pandemic or a personal tragedy or even a personal joy like getting married or having kids… I realize that we just have to make a choice”, Kissack explains, reflecting on the inspiration behind his film. Life rarely goes to plan, even if many of us have an innate desire to be in control. With this in mind, the director believes that “we have to either accept that this is the new reality […] or we don’t.” However, he also adds that if we don’t embrace change, then it’s likely you’ll “end up being unhappy and maybe scared and maybe angry and almost definitely more alone”.
Wise words from the director! And watching The Move, despite its surreal circumstances, it’s easy to relate to the on-screen couple and question: How would you react when life throws you a curveball? Do you freak out and immediately think of the worst-case scenario or do you bravely face the unexpected? While the curveball in this case is a mysterious portal to an alternate universe, it could just as well be any number of mundane things – missed flights, flat tires, you name it.
Ultimately, The Move serves as an important reminder that life is all about taking that leap and facing the music, no matter what the universe throws at us.