“This is just the beginning.”
The Secret Mechanic, a new short film from director Nicki Flores and writer David J. Paul, is an enticing slice of the criminal world’s cake as two brothers go after the money they are owed in a car garage. The characters are well-written and the acting from the two leads, Steven Ciceron as Tony and David J. Paul as Tim, works well to create an interesting dynamic which pays off nicely as the short ends.
Something is amiss between them. Dig in because, until we get there, the journey is worth the trip. There’s a certain unhinged and unique dynamic between them that the short only starts to develop, but it is intriguing and certainly worthy of the final short’s seconds.
Full of violence, believable dialogue, and a nice pace, The Secret Mechanic posits the two leads - with Tim being the unpredictable element - in the waiting area of a garage shop. You know the place, it’s where customer service goes to die. Sure, sure, the guy at the front - played here by Spencer Steward as Jay - is affable enough, but do you really expect to get out of there on time and with your money not wasted? Nope.
Yet it is here where the two brothers - hellbent on getting the money they are owed - make their last stand. Unfortunately, Tim can’t help himself and starts to harangue the customers until his brother, not wanting another scene of bloodshed and a bit of the ultraviolence, steps in and has him go after the money.
For Tony, it’s a lose-lose situation. Tim is that wild and, as portrayed by the film’s writer, David J. Paul, you really can never tell just what is going on inside that head of his. Talking to invisible people? Wow. It comes off as natural for the character and that’s the most unnerving part as Tim wanders into a nightmare of vehicular-themed violence toward the unsuspecting mechanics in the repair shop.
The Secret Mechanic, available from Threat Level Z Entertainment, and is currently screening on youtube.
MPAA Rating:
Runtime:
Director: Nicki Flores
Writer: David J. Paul
Cast: Kevin Kedgley; David J. Paul; Steven Ciceron
Genre: Short | Thriller | Action
Tagline: A Film by David J. Paul
Memorable Movie Quote: "If you help me find my money, I'll let you go."
Distributor: Threat Level Z Entertainment
Official Site:
Release Date: Now streaming
DVD/Blu-ray Release Date:
Synopsis: This action thriller brings two brothers together to run a loan sharking business. The first brother, Tim McKay, has a short fuse along with a personality disorder. The second brother, Tony McKay, does his best to keep Tim calm, ultimately failing. Inside information sent them on a mission to track down the person who stole money from them. When the brothers find the whereabouts of the thief, events turn ugly and violent. The twist at the end of the movie should not be missed.
