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<i> Elsewhere </i> — Spoiler Free Advance Review.

Genre: Dramedy

Director: Hernan Jimenez 

Cast: Aden Young, Ken Jeong, Parker Posey, Beau Bridges, Kathleen Munroe, and Jacki Weaver 

Studio: Freestyle Digital Media 

Runtime: 93 minutes

Release Date: January 24, 2020, in both select theaters and on demand. 

Rated: TV-MA

Rating: ★★★★★

“She has no idea she’s living in my house.” — Bruno

Two years have elapsed since the passing of Bruno’s (Aden Young) wife Lydia (Kathleen Munroe). Unable to move on with his life, he seeks refuge in the seaside cottage the two had built. But Lydia’s parents, who own the land, unexpectedly evict their son-in-law. Stunned by the loss of the remaining connection to his wife, Bruno vows to get his house back at any cost. That is, until he meets Marie (Parker Posey), the new owner of the house.  Will Bruno find inner-peace and reclaim his home, or will his anger lead to his demise?

One of the things I’ve learned from reviewing films and series is life experiences often impact how we view certain things. While many can’t relate to losing their home, my screening of Elsewhere occurred during the week of the tenth anniversary of losing my own house due to foreclosure following a serious work injury. The events led to me being homeless for the next three years. Much like Bruno, after being forced out, I snuck back and stayed another night in the empty house that no longer belonged to me. I simply wasn’t ready to let go and face the reality of the situation.

Young does an amazing job conveying the anguish of his character’s predicament. Even if you haven’t experienced that kind of situation, it’s easy to empathize with the character due to the range of emotions Young so brilliantly conveys when Bruno’s life is turned upside down. It could have been easy for the audience to view Bruno as someone who should simply move on with his life but Young’s portrayal humanizes the character and you find yourself feeling for him. I’m not sure if it’s due to my own experiences, but I was really taken by the layers of emotions Young takes his character through. Instead of coming across as angry, we also see elements of despair, desperation, and loneliness.

Elsewhere marks the English language debut for Costa Rican born Hernán Jiménez, who wrote and directed the film. The fundamentals of the story are not necessarily new; just a few months ago, the ABC series Perfect Harmony had a similar storyline. Both that series and Elsewhere feature a father-in-law repossessing a home following the untimely death of their daughters. Jiménez’s story adds an interesting twist by  introducing a new tenant. 

There’s a complexity to Posey’s character I find fascinating. Rooting for Bruno makes Marie the ‘bad guy’ by default, despite her being an innocent bystander. Jiménez does a wonderful job with character development by taking the time to allow them to grow and not rushing anything between Bruno and Marie. The end result is a connection that is natural and feels organic. 

Rounding out the cast is Jacki Weaver and Beau Bridges as Bruno’s parents. I’d watch Bridges in any fatherly role because he’s that good. I enjoy his scenes with Young as a loving father who tries to nudge his son to move on with his life. Weaver and Bridges have some entertaining moments together; I would have loved to have seen more of them.

Finally, there’s Ken Jeong, who plays Bruno’s loyal friend Felix. Known for his more outlandish roles, I am surprised by the restraint shown by Jiménez with Felix’s scenes considering the director’s background with stand-up comedy. While Felix has some funny moments, some directors might have felt inclined to have the character be more over the top. It’s amusing to see Jeong play a character who’s both funny and the main voice of reason in the film.

My only gripe with Elsewhere is I wanted more flashbacks involving Bruno and Lydia. Young masterfully conveys how certain aspects of the house hold a sentimental connection to his and Lydia’s past, but I wanted more because when Marie wants to make changes to the house, the audience will be able to better connect and share in Bruno’s pain having the knowledge of the intimate details of Bruno and Lydia’s love story.

Elsewhere is an interesting tale with many levels of emotions. Jiménez does an admirable job creating a character driven story about loss and finding the strength to move forward. As someone who could relate to much of the subject matter, I found the film very impactful. I’m excited to see what’s next for Jiménez. Elsewhere will be available in select theaters and on demand January 24.

Tweet me @staffaroadtrip or leave a comment below to let me know what you think about Elsewhere.

Check out the trailer to Elsewhere here.

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Photos ©2020 Freestyle Digital Media, LLC. All rights reserved.

Greg Staffa

I provide testosterone to the site. You won’t be reading about how nice a actress looks in a dress or how much of a hunk Matt Bomer is in my reviews. I describe colors using words like brown, not taupe. My twitter name is @staffaroadtrip because I love road trips and have done two different 48-state road trips since 2008. My favorite show is White Collar.

Greg Staffa

I provide testosterone to the site. You won’t be reading about how nice a actress looks in a dress or how much of a hunk Matt Bomer is in my reviews. I describe colors using words like brown, not taupe. My twitter name is @staffaroadtrip because I love road trips and have done two different 48-state road trips since 2008. My favorite show is White Collar.