Novice director Christopher Cantwell creates an inviting sense of tension and interaction, always preserving the human side of the story to best retain viewer attention. This film is a great example of a beautifully crafted and photographed, low-key thriller that doubles as a terrific character study about marginalized people. They easily could have turned this setup into a thriller, but instead, they've made a quiet, thoughtful film. Every frame is filled with significant, illuminating details. Bravo to writer Darren Lemke for not over-Hollywood-ing this story. The casting was excellent, and Paul with the young British deaf actor Danny Murphy were terrific together, with Paul playing a wounded bear growling his lines and Murphy delivering a fully realized performance. The critics were too hard on this gem. It's a well deserved 9/10 from me.
Review of The Parts You Lose
