Daft State
Directed by Chad Bishoff
Written by Sam Harter, Chad Bishoff
Starring Christopher Backus, Skye P. Marshall, Jake T. Austin
Unrated
Runtime: 1 hour 23 minutes
Available digitally November 14

by Heidi Krull, Staff Writer

Daft State opens with Easton (Christopher Backus) struggling with his mental health after the  tragic loss of his wife and daughter. Every day since has been the same for him: go to work, go home, and drink. Though he has friends who want to help him, he consistently pushes them away and falls deeper and deeper into depression. His vivid dreams soon combine with reality, and he begins to blame himself for the tragedy, and question how he can move on. Although the plot may seem familiar, Bishoff took a different direction that makes Daft State stand out.

The pacing kept me on the edge of my seat, and the point of view emphasized the despair Easton was experiencing. At the beginning, there are almost no clues about what happened. Easton’s life simply seemed mundane.As the film continues, more snippets of what his life was like are shown through flashbacks and dreams, as the film reveals the gravity what Easton is feeling. Because raft State is filmed entirely in Easton’s perspective, the viewer is just as dazed as he is. Being forced to wait for the other shoe to drop and to be patient is heart racing and captivating.

Of all the things to admire about this film, I thought the way Bishoff subverted many of the typical psychological thriller tropes was one of the most enjoyable. Easton, while a very isolated person, does have support systems in his life. His friend and therapist, Brad (Ka'ramuu Kush) frequently comes to Easton’s house and attempts to comfort him, but most of the time, Easton is too deep in despair to be open to advice. James (Paul Costanzo) also consistently invites Easton out after work although Easton has been saying no for weeks. Easton having such a support system after his loss feels like a unique choice, making the film feel fresh.

Despite having a small cast, Daft State is full of compelling performances. I was especially impressed with Christopher Backus. His depiction of a person experiencing terrible grief and pain brought me to tears, and his performance was moving, delicate, and deeply relatable. Bishoff should be applauded for being able to depict a man being so vulnerable and raw. Backus’ chemistry with his co-star, Skye P. Marshall, who played Sakura, was also outstanding. Even though Sakura was primarily just in one of his dreams, I could feel their connection through the screen, which made Easton’s reality seem even more awful. I also want to give a shoutout to Jake T. Austin who played Josh. He did not get much screen time, but his performance impressed me, especially since I have not seen him since his Disney Channel days. 

Daft State is the perfect film for someone who loves a slow burn. Though you have to wait for the payoff, it is worth the patience. This film grabs you from the first moment and refused to let go until the very last second.