The Buildout is a great example of indie filmmaking leaning into its strengths. Writer-Director Zeshaan Younus reduces a family conflict and the lasting effects of our actions to a mysterious spiritual journey with substantial results. Younous wants to take a look at the ripple effects that our personal and most intimate decisions have on those closest to us, not to mention ourselves.

Dylan (Hannah Alline) is the wandering soul of the family. She is on a seemingly endless quest to be a part of something bigger than herself. She’s tried countless ways too. Here, she has accepted a position at an outpost in the desert where Cleric Canner (Natasha Halevi) awaits her arrival. In skeptical support, Dylan’s younger sister Cameron (Jenna Kanell) is with Dylan to assist on her arduous trek through no man’s land to her destination.

Dylan and Cameron bicker and banter like siblings do. Along the way, we pick up on what’s at stake. Dylan has joined a rather draconian sect that seems to have discovered a sacred occurrence in the middle of nowhere. The cult is ambiguous, lacing bits of Christianity and new-age mysticism. That’s not really the point though. You see, Dylan has been on a reckless quest for greater understanding and belonging all her life. Through trauma and a typically difficult family history, Dylan has looked outward for the solution whereas Cameron has sardonically embraced her own imperfections on an immediate level. As the two journey into oblivion, the stakes get higher and the mystery only becomes more lethal.

Again, the majority of the conflict in The Buildout plays out through dialogue that informs us of the deep and at times painful history that they two sisters share. Aside from a few clunky bits of dialogue that function to establish relationships, Younus‘ script is elegant in the way it glides along the contours of interaction to show us who these characters are. Yes, there is a B-plot that maintains the growing danger that awaits. But that seems to be more of a cinematic convention than anything truly important. This is a film about the paths we choose in life, and worse, who is left in our wake. It’s also about the painful experience of seeing a loved one forge a flawed path, knowing full well that we will experience pain as a result.

Stars Kanell and Alline have remarkable chemistry here as two very broken siblings recovering from their shared past. Kanell’s compassionately irreverent Cameron is at odds with Alline‘s sorrowful Dylan yet there is never a moment where we lose belief in their bond. The movie hangs on their performance and they make it work.

Younus‘ The Buildout is sort of a lo-fi version of The Endless that puts the actors front and center as the primary special effect. It is a rewarding trek through the wilderness of familial conflict with just enough of a plot to keep us around for the fine character study.

7 Out of 10