Sundance Film Festival 2024 Review – Chester (Joseph Lopez) lays in his bathtub at the beginning of the haunting short, The Looming. Quiet, alone, and at peace, there is a sudden, jarring thump that startles Chester from his aquatic doze and he springs to life. He hears someone or something in his house. The aged man lives alone, and as the water droplets course down his wrinkled face, we see a frightened, vulnerable soul. Writer-director Masha Ko paints a somber picture of the alienation of aging that makes its point and leaves you thinking.

After the harrowing incident at home, Chester is relating the experience to his coworker Sarah (Audrey Del Prete). This shook Chester up quite a bit and Sarah can see that this was very real to Chester. Kevin (Kolten Horner), a snarky co-worker makes jokes about dementia, showing little compassion to his aged peer.

The next night, we observe Chester, at home, eating dinner alone, with only his home smart device to keep a conversation with. We’re not meant to pity him as he seems to be perfectly fine being alone. It’s that when he does reach out, no one listens.

We all sort of know where this is headed but Ko is smart to keep us on Chester’s side to the last. When the unwanted visitor returns there is a harrowing moment where Chester reaches out to his daughter on the phone. Utterly heartbreaking and terrifying at the same time. Ko keeps things moving swiftly and the camera just loves Lopez. He is endlessly watchable with his coarse complexion and sympathetic performance. Just understand, that this one will haunt you. The final shot stays as the credits roll and it will live in your memory long after the fade to black.

7 Out of 10