Directed by Kestrin Pantera

Written by Cool Benson & Rhyan Schwartz

Key Cast: Daelyanna Kelly Benson & Cool Benson

Review by Andy Karvelis

Separate gives us a glimpse of a future where the Supreme Court has the ability to overturn marriage equality and demands the children of same sex couples be placed with “traditional” families.

From the moment you hear the opening chords of a haunting lullaby and see a little girl skip across the frame, you know you are in for a very suspenseful ride. The filmmakers did a sensational job creating an ominous feel and Director of Photography, Mark David did not disappoint in making it look very dystopian.

There was a beautiful father daughter bond between lead actors Cool Benson and Daelyanna Benson. Their off screen rapport definitely translated on screen and they both were a joy to watch, bringing real emotion and believability to their characters. Cool was also the main screenwriter along with Ryan Scwartz, they both came up with a terrifying storyline that felt very Black Mirror-esque. In light of what is happening in some states, this could be a very real, very horrible future for us.

The ingenious writing in this also gives us hope and emphasizes love. A love between family that cannot be broken. One line really resonated with me and it was when Daelyanna said “They turned off their hearts”. What a powerful way to describe the intolerance of others, through the innocent perspective of a child.

This film leaves you wanting to see more. You immediately get invested in the characters and the story. Sensational film all around and I can’t wait to see what happens next.

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