There’s a fine line between dedication & obsession. Nathan Feldman (Sean Carmichael) straddles that line even in front of his customers. He operates a jewelry shop where no one trinket is the same. He even gives them names, such as Delilah & Scarlett. This freaks out his customers a little, but the impeccable craftsmanship put into his jewelry sways their opinion.
Right from Nathan’s introduction, you get this sense of unease. That something’s not quite right with him. He takes a bit too much pride in his work. Almost dementedly gleeful in his self-admiration. You automatically get the sense that something’s not quite right here. Sean Carmichael, who wrote & directed alongside starring in this short film, does a fine job of extracting tension simply from lines of dialogue. It’s possible taking on the role of the weird shop owner made it easier for him to build suspense, as he himself knew what he wanted out of his performance. A wise decision, I must say.
I won’t spoil the outcome of “Gleam”, but it’s safe to say you’ve come to the realization that something more sinister lurks behind Nathan’s innocent eyes. Just as you begin to piece together the clues (i.e. Nathan’s wording, the jewelry having their own names), Sean takes you behind the scenes of Nathan’s jewelry shop. It’s nothing short of visceral.
What works best in “Gleam” is the tremendous sense of unease that envelops it. You immediately get this sinking feeling that something’s not right with this picture. The jewelry shop is picture perfect, but you just know it’s anything but that behind closed doors. I’m always fascinated by dark tales centered around picturesque utopias. Sean Carmichael delivers a damn solid one!
Final Verdict: See It