As "Emergency" (2022 release; 106 min) opens, we are introduced to Sean and Kunie, 2 African-American college kids just months away from graduation. As they get back to the house they share with their friend Carlos, a (white) girl lies on the floor passed out. How did she get there? What happened? And what should they do to address the situation? Call 911? Or the cops?
Couple of comments: this movie is the feature-length debut of director Carey Williams. This is in fact the long version of his 2018 short film of the same name, which was well received. I haven't seen the short film but I did read very positive press about the new feature-length, and that was good enough for me to check it out. As the movie started to unfold, I was waiting to see if this was expected to be a comedy, or a scary film, or perhaps a social commentary, or maybe all of the above. I kept waiting and waiting for it to take off and grab my attention. Alas, for whatever reason it never happened, at least not for me. I realize that I may well be in the minority on this, and that in fact this feature-length is being well received (it is currently rated 95% fresh on Rotten Tomatoes). I really can't explain why the film didn't appeal to me. In fact it didn't do anything for me, period.
"Emergency" had a limited theater run and premiered on Amazon Prime this weekend, which is where I saw it. I was really looking forward to it. I was as surprised as anyone that I did not care for it. Of course you don't have to take my world for it, so I encourage you to check it out and draw your own conclusion.
Couple of comments: this movie is the feature-length debut of director Carey Williams. This is in fact the long version of his 2018 short film of the same name, which was well received. I haven't seen the short film but I did read very positive press about the new feature-length, and that was good enough for me to check it out. As the movie started to unfold, I was waiting to see if this was expected to be a comedy, or a scary film, or perhaps a social commentary, or maybe all of the above. I kept waiting and waiting for it to take off and grab my attention. Alas, for whatever reason it never happened, at least not for me. I realize that I may well be in the minority on this, and that in fact this feature-length is being well received (it is currently rated 95% fresh on Rotten Tomatoes). I really can't explain why the film didn't appeal to me. In fact it didn't do anything for me, period.
"Emergency" had a limited theater run and premiered on Amazon Prime this weekend, which is where I saw it. I was really looking forward to it. I was as surprised as anyone that I did not care for it. Of course you don't have to take my world for it, so I encourage you to check it out and draw your own conclusion.