Bryon Jones writes and directs this intense yet quiet short; Creatures of Habit. Starring Timothy J Cox as the stranger and Theo White as Meeka the journalist, this indie drama, with more than a little mystery thrown in, sizzles.
The story
Meeka enters a bar. He is carrying a folder. Cash in hand, he orders the usual. The journalist is, apparently, a man of habit. He takes the three shots of booze to a table and takes a seat. He is going through what appear to be crime scene photos. Dead bodies in disarray.
A stranger invites himself to Meeka’s table. They begin to talk.
What works
Cinematographer Joe Palmer (Who also co-edited the feature.) gives each frame an uncomfortable tightness. There is an almost Leone-ish closeup of the strangers lower face. Meeka is presented further back. This intimates his discomfort and desire to distance himself from this intense interloper.
The stranger has an almost uncontrollable pleasure in his interactions with Meeka. His intense joy at verbally torturing the journalist is almost preternatural. One feels that underneath that fedora pulled low over his eyes that there are horns; sharp and deadly. Waiting to spring into action.
A two headed coin
The stranger tells Meeka, in no uncertain terms, that he knows him. He insinuates that the journalist is on a list. One that is not the least flattering and could also be quite deadly. Meeka reacts accordingly.
Jones has given us an oblique look at good and evil. We are under the impression that Meeka is a solid citizen. A journalist trying to make sense of the crimes of committed by his fellow man.
The stranger yanks that idea off the table like a magician with a tablecloth. He has, apparently, been studying the man for some time.
And he likes what he sees.
Performances
Cox excels in this role of intense joy. His stranger is struggling to hold his excitement at bay. He projects an image of a tiger playing with its prey. Despite not being able to see anything but his teeth and chin, he nails this nasty bit of work squarely on the head.
White reacts perfectly to this, initially odd, eventually disturbing interaction brilliantly. His facial expressions and body language clearly reveal what Meeka is really feeling.
Creatures of Habit is a duet. A melding of themes vividly projected between two men. A quiet intense battle that, at the end of the exchange, we are left slightly disturbed and relieved.
The Verdict
When the film ends we are left wondering just what we witnessed here. And this is what makes it work so well. Mike’s Film Talk unabashedly gives Creature of Habit a full 5 stars. I love indie filmmaking and once in a great while someone creates something nigh on perfect. Jones and co have managed to enthrall in just under 7 minutes.
Tou·ché.
Creature of Habit is on its festival run. Keep an eye out for this one. You will be entertained.
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