Conspiracy caused by corruption consumes countless crowds in communities critically connecting correlations of covered-up political cataclysmic calamities.

Dashcam is about a mild-mannered news editor who’s accidentally sent an email from the police with dashcam footage regarding a shoot-out between a politician and a police officer. The controversial incident is already all over the media with abundant conspiracy theories forming around the whole event being an assassination cover-up. The footage in question doesn’t exactly, definitively affirm whether it’s true or not but it raises questions. Details described in police reports don’t match what was captured on camera for example. What proceeds is an absorbing, compelling mystery as he tries to piece the puzzle together by reviewing videos and audio files using his editing equipment. We follow the twisted tale of paranoia, isolation, bewilderment, and police brutality as the mystery unfolds.

Eric Tabach plays Jake, carrying the weight of the film as the timid editor of a news program. The bulk of the time is focused on his inner struggle as outside forces apply pressure on him. His girlfriend, his boss, and a bizarre unknown caller all add to the tension. His performance is impeccable, acting as a surrogate for the audience as the viewer learns things as he does. We watch from the protagonist’s perspective as he compares footage by isolating audio and video samples with the technology at his disposal. He’s timid and distant from everyone in his life so the advancement of his story arc makes sense. If the right actor wasn’t cast in the role the film simply wouldn’t work. They chose wisely, as Tabach has what it takes to be a sympathetic leading man to root for.

Giorgia Whigham plays Jake’s girlfriend Mara. She calls him via video chat for assistance and moral support. While she believes the conspiracy is real, she plays devil’s advocate to adequately put things into perspective for him. Her terrific performance adds dimensions to both the plot and Jake. She makes him think about possible ideas he hadn’t considered. She also grounds him, reminding him what’s at stake if he decides to go public with this information.

Zachary Booth plays Jake’s boss Tim. He’s the typical arrogant, contemptible authority figure that’s the bane of Jake’s life. His performance is exemplary of those types of bosses. The way he sways from charming leader to intimidating authoritarian is incredibly portrayed. It takes a certain swagger to pull off a role like that but he does it swimmingly.

Written and Directed by Christian Nilsson, the creative mind behind the very low budget yet very popular 2020 short film Unsubscribe, it’s his first full-length feature film. He has said in previous interviews how the plot was inspired by many of his favourite films. The story is told in unconventional methods, making for a unique viewing experience. Some methods include the plot mostly taking place in Jake’s apartment from his point of view. One motif used particularly well was the constant red and blue colour scheme implementation in creative, inventive ways.

Overall, without revealing too much, Dashcam is a fast-paced enthralling mystery involving Jake’s ambivalence about the conspiracy itself. At first, he’s skeptical of the whole idea of a conspiracy but his doubt looms over him more as the film progresses. Viewers are taken to the world of video editing portrayed in ways unseen before on film. The suspense comes from the actor’s powerful performances, artful direction, and thoughtful tightly woven script. I highly recommend this for anyone looking for a truly original cinematic experience. And remember, it’s hard to distinguish when we’ve been lied to when the truth gets dashed by the media but the camera never lies.

9 out of 10