Mikes Film Talk

Clarke M Smith‘s 5 minute 1991 short Foresight shows glimpses of the future. Although, we have to ask ourselves. Does it really, or it this a nightmare? Regardless, of what it is, this ultra short film makes you think long after watching it.

Foresight the Story

A man is asleep in an easy chair, he rests with a beer bottle clutched loosely in one hand. Over the white noise of the television, he hears something.

Or someone.

The Cast

Thomas Findlow is the sleeping man.

Adam Kaye is the burglar.

Kaylani Jackson is the woman.

Let’s Talk Foresight

Like many of Smith’s films, Foresight has layers. It also has an undercurrent of reality. This one is a sleep affliction. Many of us have suffered from this, mostly in times of stress. What is this affliction you ask?

Night Terrors.

These are dreams that occur at a time when we believe ourselves awake. The beer clutching man in front of the static of the TV seems to be having this issue. Or is he? The most common sign of Night Terrors is the inability to move, to act. The danger we are dreaming about is right there. Yet we are helpless to save ourselves or our loved ones.

Later, during this incident, the man manages to act. This turns out to be a disaster.

It Works

Foresight works very well. At the start, we see and hear the white noise of the television. We also see a shadow in the window. Once the intruder is inside and trying to steal valuables, the sleeping man drops his beer bottle.

Things go all Pete Tong after that. (Pete Tong = Wrong.)

Smith manages to bring us fully into this “nightmare” scenario. The dim room, the static, the sleeping figure in the chair, all put us in the right state of mind. If the man is not suffering a type of nightmare, his dream state is showing him something.

This is why the film works so well.

Perhaps the forewarning is less about an intruder. It may be more about not falling asleep in front of the telly. Taking this even further, it could also be warning about keeping a gun in your house.

The Verdict

This 1991 (upscaled) film is an excellent bit of work. A perfect example of how low/no budget movies overwhelmingly deliver if done right. *The listed budget is $1.1K. It is amazing what one can do with so little cash.*

Foresight is a solid 4.5 stars. The use of sound, lighting and imagery makes this one work. It can be streamed on YouTube. Head on over and check this one out. *Kudos to Mark Isham as the film’s composer. He does this one right.*