Will

Will is a gripping one-take POV thriller directed by Scott Cooper, with Burr Steers appearing as a writer on the project. Drawing inspiration from Richard Linklater's A Scanner Darkly, this cinematic marvel interweaves the intense atmosphere of a Memorial Day festival with the desperate search of a family member for their lost little brother. The film is shot in a single take from a handheld camera, giving the audience a visceral perspective of the action unfolding before their very eyes. The narrative is dominated by the perspective of the desperate brother, often referred to as 'Will,' as he traverses through a sea of people dancing, drinking, and socializing in a jubilant atmosphere. As we delve into the story, we find ourselves in a war film-era setting, vividly characterized by an outdoor American army camp and troop, the celebration marked by loud music and laughter. However, amidst this bliss, tragedy strikes, and amidst chaos, a little boy goes missing. Initially, panic ensues among the people gathered at the campsite, but it soon becomes obvious that no one seems to be seeking the lost child. Amid the panic and chaos caused by the festivities, the viewers have no choice but to follow the desperate actions of Will as he scours for his missing brother. Throughout the film's relentless 17-minute plot, Will's ordeal becomes a disturbing picture of the apathy and callousness that defines an era enthralled in frenzy and indulgence, unable (or unwilling) to offer genuine acts of assistance, including rescuing a lost child. Set against the background of chaos, the filmmakers adeptly convey Will's desperation, capturing the moments of his turmoil and despair. Cooper's directing heightens the emotional tension and ensures the audience feels an attachment to the loss engulfing Will and his family, a loss that makes him and people around Will numb. As Will scrambles around for his missing brother, flashes of chaos consume our screen – parties, gun games and raves are all part of what unfolds during those fateful eighteen minutes. Interwoven is Will's desperate search on one continuous, long shot where viewers develop an impression of utter helplessness as all but Will ignore his desperate plight. Every attempt to get help from persons close to Will leaves him empty-handed in panic within the labyrinth formed by the chaos around him. In an ultimate scene of horror the boy was never there, a chilling epiphany rocks Will to his very core. The one-take element heightens feelings of agony and disconnection, ultimately rendering viewers drained and sympathetic to Will's painful struggle.