Lost in Terra Dimension is perhaps the most challenging type of film to review through a critical lens, an admirable and ambitious low-budget indie effort that is likely to see most of its success on the microcinema or regional fest circuit but also a film that is hindered by all the usual indie filmmaking obstacles such as occasionally out of focus lensing, a spotty sound design, and hit-and-miss acting. 

The film centers around two sisters, Spacle (Kat Lehto) and Zeandra (Lizelle Gutierrez), who get trapped into a different dimension and dreamworld by Dom-X (John Moamar), a ruthless dictator determined to keep them in their helpless state. Desperately seeking a way out, the two will be aided by Telda (Zoey Grayce), the fairy warrior, and others who will, it is hoped, help the sisters find their way out. 

At a mere 60 minutes in length, Lost in Terra Dimension uses its time wisely and tells its story quickly. Lehto and Gutierrez also write and direct the film, an obvious labor of love and a brief cruise around social media reveals these two talented young women have quite the group of friends and fans supporting them along their way. Indeed, there's much promise to be found in Lost in Terra Dimension and it will be fun to watch these two as they continue their filmmaking journeys. 

It's obvious that Lehto and Gutierrez have a nice chemistry throughout Lost in Terra Dimension and that's a chemistry that helps the story move along quite nicely. The film's real secret weapon, however, is Zoey Grayce as Telda, who seems intuitively to understand the type of tone needed here to make a low-budget sci-fi effort work. John Moamar is clearly having a good time as Dom-X with a performance that had me fondly reflecting on the old Flash Gordon serials. While the ensemble is hit-and-miss, typically the case with low-budget indies, Ashley Iocco shines as Marigold and Cjon does some nice work as Alkar. 

Sci-fi is perhaps the most, or at least one of the most, challenging genres to pull off on a low-budget and Lehto and Gutierrez deserve credit for ambitiously going for it here. Ly Vui's original music is a nice complement to the film and while there's never any doubt that this is a micro-budgeted film it's one of those films you can't help but admire. 

Lost in Terra Dimension isn't the type of film you're going to find in a multiplex anytime soon. It's most likely not going to play Cannes or Sundance or any of the bigger fests. It's a passion project indie flick put together with heart and soul and growing talent. It's the kind of film I love to watch even if it's not the type of film I'm necessarily going to lavish with critical praise. 

For more information on Lost in Terra Dimension, visit the film's website and watch for it at an indie fest near you. 

Written by Richard Propes
The Independent Critic