The Root of the Problem

by Tom Jeffers

THE ROOT OF THE PROBLEM is a tight little horror comedy that plays on all our fears of going to the dentist.  Set in the 1950’s this perfectly cast, spectacular short is a visual feast.  Running only fourteen minutes, ROOT wastes no time pulling the viewer into a world that is utterly disturbing.  The primal fear and nervous tension of the piece is almost palatable.

Every single scene is utter perfection as it creates the overall mood of the film.  The short has vivid color and a sharp presentation that begins in the opening sequence.

The director uses a fly to set the overall tone of the film.  The unsanitary stage is created as the film takes us buzzing along into the procedure room of a run-down dentistry office.   Everything is in stark contrast to the cardinal red color of our main character’s clothing.  Allison Gallager is brilliant in this role as she depicts the person none of us want to be: the one in the dentist chair.  Honestly, the entire cast is wonderful at what they do in this piece.

Ptolemy Slocum absolutely makes the viewer’s skin crawl, and his nurse portrayed by Brea Grant, a very lovely lady, gives off such a maniacal vibe that she is hard to look at with any comfort.    The story itself is a wonder and such an excellent idea that it makes me very glad I have not had much dental work. 

Writers Mark E. Davidson and Ryan Spindell have penned a fantastic script.  The sets of the short are built in such a way that shows an excellent attention to every detail, and the colors are contrasted clearly to add to the experience. There is a run down look to the set that just takes the discomfort to a whole new level.   Frankly, I am very happy that director Ryan Spindell did this idea as a short.  I would love to see more of them.  It works perfectly and was a total disturbing delight.