The Burden of Guilt

Starring: Teala Stampley, Torean Thomas, Rosa Pill, Mariah Salae

Director: Lilton Stewart III

Married couple Mallory (Stampley) and Tristan (Thomas) have come to Dr. Colburn (Pill) to figure out what destroyed their marriage after the unexpected and mysterious death of their son. As the session progresses, all of the couples' secrets and lies are laid on the table with each new sinister layer about their relationship being revealed.

Those of you who come to this site for my reviews will no doubt know that I have been waiting for this review for a long time. Not necessarily for this specific movie itself but for the feature debut of talented filmmaker Director Lilton Stewart III. I have reviewed his short films and have been waiting to see what he can achieve with a feature film. While the results aren't quite what I was hoping for, Stewart's talent behind the camera can't be denied. He wrote, directed, edited and acted as cinematographer for this film and its commendable how much he is willing to take on to see his vision come to life.

For me, the movie works a lot better in its first half than the second. The first half is a brutal, almost fly on the wall examination of a couple grappling with how their marriage crumbled. Jabs are taken and secrets are revealed that the couple must now try to work through. However, the second half reveals there is a more supernatural occurrence happening and this is where things start to fall apart. However, it ends on one of the more audacious and bold shots since 2013's Enemy that I absolutely admire!

With a more cohesive story, this could have been a masterful debut. Exploring the theme of guilt, Stewart guides us through a wild and twist filled narrative that feels much more melodramatic than it needs to be. There is a powerful story in here about the guilt a couple feels about their roles in the destruction of their own marriage. This could have led to a story filled to the brim with tension due to what characters are leaving unsaid. However a lot of that tension is spelled out for the audience, especially once it adds the supernatural element, and as a result undercuts much of the inherent tension present in the story.

I do have to commend Stewart for attempting to do something even seasoned directors don't dare to try: a single location film. While it wasn't necessary for the story to venture anywhere outside of this location, the constrictions of having a single location film are felt. However, Stewart uses this to his advantage, creating tension through his claustrophobic camera work. The real MVP for me though is the score by Francesco Tresca. It perfectly captures what Stewart was going for and underscores a lot of the story perfectly. Much like Todd Haynes' May December, the music perfectly suits the story being told. Come to think of it, maybe it was Stewart's intention to have the story be that melodramatic.

To his credit, Stewart also goes to painstaking lengths to not take either Mallory's or Tristan's side. This allows the audience to just be a along for the ride with two characters that can really only be described as awful or unlikable. This isn't a detriment to the story being told and kudos to the actors and Stewart for putting two incredibly flawed and terrible people at the center of the story. The actors do a good job but its hard to not feel like their performances are too performative. There is a lot of emotion present in the story but the way that the dialogue is delivered, especially by Torean Thomas, rings of false emotion and melodrama. Whether this was intentional or not, a lot of the tension gets undercut.

As I've said multiple times, Stewart is a talented guy and will take on multiple roles to bring his films to life. Though the film ultimately misses the mark that I set for him in my mind, Stewart has a fantastic cinematic eye and ability to bring unique cinematic stories to the screen. Regardless of my feelings on the final product, I can't take away the bold final shot! And as always I look forward to what he will put out next!

Grade: C+

The Burden of Guilt is currently seeking distribution. Check local festivals for screenings near you!