The Mime

The Mime is a 2013 American mystery drama film written and directed by Brian Kaczynski. It is based on the real-life tragic event of the disappearance of a young man named Billy McCord during the 1982 Founders Day Festival in the small town of Hillsboro, Ohio. The film centers around a tragic incident that occurred during a small-town festival in Ohio. On a sunny day in 1982, the town's Founders Day Festival and performer's parade were in full swing. Thousands of people had gathered to celebrate the town's founding and enjoy the entertainment, music, and games. Among the performers was a young mime named John, who had been recruited to entertain the crowd with his art of silent storytelling and mime performances. However, during a break in the performance, a 23-year-old woman named Susan Williams, who had been watching John's performance, disappeared from the crowd. Her body was later found in a nearby wooded area, and the town was shocked and devastated by the news. An investigation was launched, but no one was ever charged or convicted of her murder. As the investigation continued, a young woman named Sarah, who had been a friend of Susan's, began to notice strange occurrences around town. It seemed as though the mime who had been performing during the festival was somehow connected to Susan's disappearance. The mime, who was later revealed to be named John, had a peculiar and unsettling presence, and Sarah couldn't shake the feeling that he was hiding something. As the story unfolds, it becomes clear that John, the mime, was indeed somehow involved in Susan's disappearance. However, it's not until later in the film that the full truth about what happened that day is revealed. The film takes a non-linear approach, with the investigation and the events leading up to the tragedy being slowly pieced together. Sarah's investigation leads her to a series of clues and discoveries that reveal a dark and disturbing truth. It turns out that John, who had been suffering from depression and anxiety, had become increasingly unhinged in the days leading up to the festival. He had become fascinated with Susan, who he saw as a kindred spirit, and had become obsessed with performing for her. On the day of the festival, John had become desperate to win Susan's attention, and had become fixated on her. As the investigation reveals, John had created a twisted and sinister act, using Susan as the center of his performance. However, things had gone horribly wrong, and Susan had disappeared during the performance. As the truth about what happened that day is revealed, the town of Hillsboro is forced to confront its own dark past and the secrets that had been hidden for so long. The film ends with a sense of resolution, as Sarah finally finds some closure, but the truth about John's actions and the tragedy of Susan's disappearance serves as a haunting reminder of the destructive power of obsession and the devastating consequences of unchecked mental health issues.