DaveTearn

The second film by director Yedidya Gorsetman Empathy, Inc. is a neo-noir sci-fi thriller that utilizes its resources in a way that compliments the plot perfectly. This intimate thriller follows Joel (Zack Robidas) as he navigates through life, looking for a new venture to fund after losing everything to a failed investment. Joel is introduced to a cutting edge company that uses a technology called “Extreme Virtual Reality” to provide clients with a hyper realistic virtual experience. Joel’s curiosity begins to get the best of him and when he investigates the product on his own he realizes that there is more to it that he imagined. This film follows the concept of a tech startup and the props and settings used in the movie compliment the values of the company well. The company that Joel invests in is called Empathy, Inc. and is working with an incomplete, extremely advanced technology which is why the setting of an old, dingy warehouse works well as the site of the companies location. Surrounding the basic computer, chair, and helmet that make up the basic components of the XVR technology are several other unidentifiable gadgets. These various random machines with buttons and levers let the audience imagine a workshop like setting that has most likely seen many instances of trial and error throughout the process of creating a new technology without explicitly showing it. Instead of using special effects in order to express the idea of creating a secretive, potentially dangerous tech, this film lets the audience use context clues in order to imagine what happened off screen. This movie is incredibly entertaining and somehow encompases both future and retro feelings through setting and props and I highly recommend checking it out on VOD when you can!