Gazer Is a Reminder of When Indie Films Were Exciting
In Frankie’s daily life, she journeys to work, then catches the bus back to her modest apartment, observing others with a keen interest, as if she blends into the background. Her condition, degenerative dyschronometria – a neurological disorder that impairs the perception of time – might evoke thoughts of Christopher Nolan’s movie, Memento, about a character grappling with a mystery while dealing with brain function issues. However, directors Sloan and Mastroianni, who collaborated during the pandemic to finance their project, seemed inspired by classic films like Vertigo, Rear Window, The Conversation, and Videodrome. The final product, filmed on 16mm between work commitments, shares more similarities with Nolan’s debut, Following, than his later works. This minimalist film may seem a bit rough around the edges at times and might not always convey the intensity that Frankie experiences. Yet, it exudes the joy of independent filmmaking, evident in every somber scene.