Several independent films made during the pandemic have recently been released. Some have been good, some not so bad, and there are some questionable products. Say Goodbye To Hollywood brings an interesting proposal that weakens at times and recovers its strength at others to show its true intentions.

Sean (Michael Collins) is an artist who leaves his life in West Virginia to fulfill his dreams in Hollywood, but his plans are interrupted by a virus that forces him to live on the streets of a town that soon became empty– there are no inhabitants to the roundabout or tourists who can help him meet his goals. As Sean heads out to find new destinations within the city limits, he finds out there are still a few people left with whom he can interact for good or for worse. From this moment on, each interaction helps him understand what is happening and takes him in an opposite direction to survive. But how far will he go traveling down other people’s paths and how much will he sacrifice to adapt to change?

Say Goodbye To Hollywood is a dystopian thriller shot during the early days of the COVID pandemic that, despite seeming like a bad idea at the time, goes a long way towards creating uncertainty in the setting by showing, not even portraying, a ghost town from a tourist attraction. There are no standout elements in its scenery, but it proves to be unnecessary when the plot requires the viewer’s full attention to connect the dots.

From the beginning it displays the direction the plot will take by showing a set of tarot cards that are flipped by a crucial character. The filmmaker seems to have a clear ambition of his goal by wanting to touch base with triggering philosophical aspects in the formation and self-discovery of Sean’s journey. It depicts an eerie situation from a real-life scenario, and it returns an even scarier product revolving around the idea of sectarianism..

This is a clear example of a production that uses its few resources available to its advantage, as well as the world’s at-the-time current situation, to develop a story of intrigue to give depth to the intersecting stories of its characters. Although at times it seems not to have a specific orientation in its plot, it remains valid by introducing a new mystery in each chapter. The inconsistencies it carries during its development seem to act as a metaphor for “adapting change” and the supposedly forced destiny for a person who wishes for riches without knowing the price to pay– the plot permutes well in its continuity, leaving aside its previous stages to maintain its relevance.

Say Goodbye To Hollywood is a rambunctious crafty thriller that seems to begin narrating the life of its main character, but ends up unfolding a destiny for which he was imposed. Although it shares a title with a song by Billy Joel, and the lyrics seem to be little inspiration for the plot with a twist, it’s an unrelated casualty that works in its favor. This film may not be everyone’s favorite attraction but, just like the infamous city, it might have something entertaining for you.

9 OUT OF 10 TENTS