The Buildout
Written and Directed by Zeshaan Younus
Starring Hannah Alline and Jenna Kanell
Runtime 70 minutes
Florida Premiere at Popcorn Frights Festival August 11
Available to watch On Demand via the Fest here

by Vannah Taylor, Staff Writer

Back in April 2022, I made my way to one of my favorite arthouse cinemas, The Frida Cinema in Santa Ana, to attend a found footage marathon. Three mystery films (which were revealed to the audience one by one to be As Above So Below, [REC], and The Blair Witch Project) were curated by Frida programmer and producer on The Buildout, Trevor Dillon, and presented to raise awareness for this new project. Now, just a couple of years later, audiences of Popcorn Frights Film Festival 2024 have the chance to experience director Zeshaan Younus’s strange feature film debut.

The film opens on an expansive shot of the desert that will serve as the backdrop for this story about two old friends coming together for a trip into the desert. The vastness is overwhelming and there is an energy that is carried by the wind. Dylan (Hannah Alline) and Cameron (Jenna Kanell) are kicking up the dust that has settled on top of a friendship made dormant by grief. The love that exists between our two leads is clear, and the intimacy of their trip is haunted by the feeling that “goodbye” is coming too soon. This is not just any ordinary road trip, but a journey to deliver Dylan to her new home amidst the desolate hills to take up residence with members of her mysterious religious group.

The disconnect between the two continues to expand as Cam is obviously made uncomfortable by her friend’s newfound devotion to God—despite how devoted she is to being a stable support for Dylan in this new phase of life. If I asked anyone how willing they would be to venture off the grid and allow their friend to be molded by the hands of what can best be described as a cult, I’m sure I could guess the answer. Yet, the violet hues of the desert dusk and the careful usage of almost 100% natural light perfectly capture the cosmic allure of this destination. Shot on location in sunny Southern California, the cinematography executed by Justin Moore expertly delivers the true texture of the landscape.

The Buildout is a film that feels grounded, one with the earth around it. The camerawork alternates between found footage point of view shots that heighten the intimacy of the story and the audience’s connection with the characters, and wide shots that make their surroundings feel infinite—speaking to the deeply human fear at the center of this film: feeling alone.

The gap between the two was cracked open by the passing of Cam’s sister and Dylan’s best friend as well as Dylan’s road to recovery. Grieving a loved one and recovery from issues with substance abuse are both unique processes, having no one-size-fits-all remedy, but that never means we must brace those challenges all on our own. Cameron and Dylan are attempting to ride out those waves on the backs of motorcycles and in the comfort of each other’s company. However, the desert and the ominous forces surrounding them test their friendship as they realize the importance of going deeper toward a confrontation with those uncomfortable emotions that plague us all. Alline and Kanell deliver performances that feel personal and extremely authentic (not to mention Kanell performed all of her own motorcycle stunts).

The mysteries of The Buildout are questions that are never clearly answered, and the terror is often hidden in small glimpses or lurking in the shadows–which may leave audiences divided and yearning for more from Younus. However, this slow burn will reward any viewer who appreciates honest filmmaking—and with a slim 70-minute runtime, any genre fan would be wise to take this journey into the unknown.

 “In dust we trust.”