“The Spinning Man” is an independent film directed by Jordan Rosenbloom. It opens in the Kennedy-era ’60s, in an alternate history where a nuclear war happens. It’s a chilling beginning to the film, as we get a POV shot of a nuclear explosion, perfectly framed in the view from a bedroom window; it’s as if we had just woken up and looked out the window to see a perfectly serene and tidy subdivision get annihilated in seconds.
Instead of focusing on a macroscopic view of post-apocalypse America, however, the film tightens its focus on one man named Stan (played by Travis Mitchell), living a solitary life in his bomb shelter, eating cans of clam chowder and broadcasting (complete with a glowing “On Air” sign) from his makeshift broadcasting station.
Living in a Post-Apocalyptic World
At the beginning, he seems almost optimistic about this post-disaster living. Stan itemizes cans of clam chowder, and does his best imitation of a high-energy disc jockey when broadcasting. But over the course of the film, we watch him deteriorate.
The biggest problem with short films is the lack of time available to really dig into characters and situations. The 14-minute run-time hurts this film, because midway through, there’s a new character introduced (coming over Stan’s broadcast station) who seems to be the antithesis of Stan. He’s forward and pushy, as well as loud and obnoxious, and he really wants to meet with Stan to trade items.
Travis Mitchell in a scene from “The Spinning Man.” (Photo via screen grab, Vimeo).
It instantly changes the atmosphere of the film to chilling and malevolent, as paranoia kicks in. Who is this guy? How far away is he from Stan’s location? Why does he REALLY want to meet Stan so badly? And most eerie of all, has he already been in Stan’s bomb shelter while Stan was sleeping?
Too Short a Run-Time to Really Dig in to ‘The Spinning Man’
It’s here that the film becomes reminiscent of films like “Repulsion” and “The Tenant” by Roman Polanski. The film puts us in a position where we can’t fully trust the lead character’s viewpoint. Are all these things really happening to Stan, or is the isolation and dwindling food supply fracturing his sanity?
The whole film takes place in the bomb shelter. It has a weathered look that’s on-point, right down to the old beaten mattress Stan sleeps on.
…Over the course of the film, we watch him [Stan] deteriorate.”
As for Stan himself: I like him. He seemed genuine and his character acted like how I imagine a normal person would react in an apocalypse. This isn’t some Snake Plissken-type tough guy or cowardly nebbish terrified of the world; this is just a regular Joe responding to horrible events the best he can. You feel for the guy and the ending of the film is a darkly satisfying conclusion to his story.
“The Spinning Man” has finished its film festival run and is available to watch on Vimeo for free at https://vimeo.com/402315343.
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