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Dallas spawns another film with Fissure

The word fissure refers to a break or a crack, an imperfection to the system.  But is also refers to an opening.  That idea is explored in the new Dallas made independent production Fissure.

The film plays like a Twilight Zone episode.  Paul Grunning is a cop on administrative leave following a tragedy.  Popping prescription medications has become his reason of being.  His unseen boss sends him on a simple call about an intruder on the premises.  When he gets to the residence, he doesn’t find an intruder, but the dead body of Professor Ulster on the floor.  The wife Emma is distraught, saying that her husband has killed himself. 

As Paul Grunning begins to start his investigation, he begins to notice things are not as they seem to be.  The gun is not consistent with a suicide.  He begins to question the wife and she goes into another room When Paul follows her, he discovers that the body is gone and the wife has no idea what the detective is talking about. 

Thus begins our mystery.  Has Paul lost his mind or is something sinister going on in the house?  As he investigates, he discovers that the house has other suspects.  There is the lovely female assistant Rachael who lives at the house and the son Andrew who is estranged from his father.  As he interviews the different members of the household, he notices that things keep changing, like his car being outside when he looks out one window, but gone when he glances in a second one.  Is the medicine a part of his judgment or has he just snapped.  The audience accompanies him on this journey into the unknown.

The production values of Fissure are outstanding, especially for a low budget independent feature..  The lighting resonates with a dark tone, almost to a film noir flourish.  Except in a few minor instances, the film stays in the house, giving a trapped impression to the proceedings.  As the film unravels its mystery, the cinematic tension never lets up.  First time feature director Russ Pond works well with all the technical aspects of the screenplay and the human elements of the cast.  As a calling card, Fissure shows what can be done with a creative team trying to deliver their best with their confines.

James Macdonald does a solid job as Detective Grunning. Giving the character a world weary bravado he still manages to find depth in what could have been a one-note performance.  Crystal Mantecon almost becomes a femme fatal in the work but still delivers a wide-eyed innocence.  Since each actor is basically separated in each room, the only person who acts and reacts to each situation is James Macdonald and he never fails to find a different aspect for each encounter.

I don’t think it is fair to compare little flicks like Fissure against major Hollywood blockbusters.  I’d bet the catering budget for a typical movie cost more than the entire budget of Fissure.  But it is what is it, a very successful low budget film that showcases how high dollar one can craft a work of cinema.

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