"VIDEO VISION" Is A Misguided Nostalgia Trip Into The Analog Age (REVIEW)
There are two camps of people in the film fan space; those who believe in digital media and those who prefer physical media. Regardless of preference, there will always be a market for more analog styles of technology that harken back to a simpler time before our current state of techno-wizardry. It is the reason why vinyl records continue to be pressed and boutique labels like Severin Films and Vinegar Syndrome issue 4K UHD releases of films whose only surviving elements are a rough 35mm print from Germany. There is something about the tactile experience of holding a movie in one's hand that cannot be matched by the digital libraries folks are amassing these days, especially when studios can take them away at a moment's notice. This obsession with physical media and nostalgia is part of the driving behind “Video Vision” from Writer/Director Michael Turney which premiered recently at FrightFest UK. Is this analog nightmare a nostalgia trip worth taking, or is it a confused mess of good intentions and poor execution?
WHAT’S IT ABOUT?
A RetroTech Romance about a woman who unlocks the dark dimension of Dr. Analog through an old VCR.
HOW IS IT?
We live in an age where access to information and expertise is almost literally within a click of a button. Whether through a mobile phone, tablet, or computer there are seemingly infinite amounts of information out there about lived experiences and access to the people who understand these experiences firsthand, especially as it relates to Trans people. In 2024, we collectively as a global society are fighting stereotypes while working to establish equity and equality for all people to live as they are without issue. This preamble is necessary when talking about “Video Vision,” a film that uses a Trans character to try and educate an audience about acceptance and growth. However, while good intentions may be at play it is almost inexcusable at this juncture to have a shocking lack of actual representation on-screen while also treating material like an after-school special rather than an intimate story about love in a non-binary world while using technology as a metaphor for change. “Video Vision” is frustrating because it buries good ideas under a very shallow attempt at making a bolder statement.
Kibby (Andrea Figliomeni) is, like many of us, a nostalgia junkie who finds solace in physical media and shirks the digitization of the world. When she meets Gator (Chrystal Peterson), a Trans Man, she falls for them while struggling to accept her attraction to a Trans person. Meanwhile, a mysterious VHS player seems to be affecting Kibby’s life with hallucinations and scary analog nightmares. Let us first start with our two main characters, Kibby and Gator. Moving aside the names, Kibby as a character is meant to be a proxy for an average cis woman almost to a fault. When she and Gator go on their first date, it ends in what can only be described as some of the most cringe dialogue ever written and uttered. Kibby berates Gator for being Trans and places blame on them for Kibby not understanding the nuance and Gator patiently tries to answer questions calmly while Kibby is throwing a hissy fit because of her feelings. This scene happens early on and isn’t close to as egregious as things get later which leaves one wondering if any Trans people were consulted during the script or production phase. Furthermore, while we cannot attest to this firsthand it does appear that neither the Actor playing Gator or anyone else in the film identifies as a Trans person which makes one wonder, how can you tell a Trans story when you omit a Trans person from the cast? Were any Trans people consulted during production to assist similar to an intimacy coordinator to help guide the dialogue and acting? Again, we can’t say for sure that this was the case, but it sure does feel like some opportunities were missed to get this right.
Much of the problem lies in the dialogue, which isn’t just bad it’s on the nose bad. The actors do the best with what they’re given, but this squarely falls on Turney who is both Writer and Director. Our two main characters talk like they’re giving a Public Service Announcement most of the time, and on more than one occasion the dialogue reminds you that the main conflict in this story isn’t the technological terror of an old VHS player, but the conflict inside Kibby for accepting Gator as a Trans Man and her partner. So many other films deal with Trans people in far more appropriate ways, like Trim Season or even the recently reviewed The People’s Joker, that it doesn’t feel like an error of omission as much as one of commission. When the horror starts to kick in in the third act, there are some interesting ideas about possession using analog devices and an interesting antagonist that is woefully underdeveloped. It’s just a shame that “Video Vision” doesn’t do a better job of balancing the personal story of Kibby and Gator with the horror of the haunted VHS player. In a way, if you were to take out the horror bits the movie essentially remains unchanged, and given how poorly the Trans discourse is handled here one has to wonder, what is “Video Vision” trying to say and who is it trying to say it to?
LAST RITES
“Video Vision” is a misguided attempt to marry a discussion around Trans people with an analogy of aging tech that represents a metaphor for a constantly evolving world, but sadly is hampered by some atrocious dialogue and disingenuous storytelling which mars the novel concept at the core.
THE GORY DETAILS
Directed By
Written By
Starring
Where can you watch it?
Video Visoin premiered at FrightFest UK 2024 and a wider release is still pending.
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