The strengths in Streamer are very subtle and camouflaged by deliberate monotony.

Since Streamer is an honest depiction of modern day voyeurism, filmmakers Jared Bratt and Vincent Pun have made most of their film positioned from the outside looking in.  The scenes that work well are extended static shots of characters minding their own business and feeding their own curiosities as movie goers look at them through windows.  This may be too on the nose, but the bold choice pays off and layers the story.

The actors are allowed to feel the atmosphere around them, and strike up conversation in ways that feel very natural.  This also means the audience experiences dull drags and silent lapses in the narrative, but it’s a fair trade for honest results.  It’s a film that truly speaks to the most patient of movie goers.

If you’re intrigued by any of the low-key details I described, Streamer will be worth your while.  Unfortunately, Streamer has been pitched and programmed as a “Midnight Madness” selection at this year’s Blood in the Snow Film Festival – a bizarre and anticlimactic choice considering how painstakingly slow and tragic the drama is.  Here’s hoping the late-night crowd is open-minded.

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Streamer screens at the Blood in the Snow Canadian Film Festival on: 

Saturday, November 26 at 11:59 p.m. @ Toronto’s Cineplex Yonge and Dundas

For more information on the festival, visit the official BITS webpage here.

Buy tickets here.

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The Blood in the Snow Canadian Film Festival: @BITSFilmFest
Addison Wylie: @AddisonWylie