Simple Mind is the story of Bob (Timothy J. Cox), whose relationship with his therapist (Kristi McCarson) reveals truths about himself he could never imagine.

While the surprise of Simple Mind isn't particularly surprising, the film is worth a watch primarily for the benefit of watching the continued development of actor Timothy J. Cox. Cox's performance as Bob is filled with pieces of vulnerability, conceit, delusion and more than a little uncomfortable menace. The action takes place in both past and present as Bob works with his therapist in slowly building towards a revelation that leaves an impact even if you've already figured out where writer/director Phil Newsom's short film is going.

One of the things one learns when regularly reviewing short is just how often actors, both widely known and relative unknowns, appear in them. Short films offer an opportunity to grow, experiment, try new genres and network with new people. Cox is a regular contributor of shorts for review to The Independent Critic, and it's hard not to be impressed with his willingness to try virtually every genre of film.

Kristi McCarson embodies the therapist with an almost wide-eyed innocence, but it's clear from the way the scene unfolds between herself and Bob that she's building quite a dynamic of captivating tension. Paul Nameck's camera work does a nice job of focusing on Cox's ever-changing facial expressions and body language.

Filmed on a modest $2,000 production budget, Simple Mind is now available for web-based viewing and can be seen in its entirety right here on The Independent Critic. Check it out and leave the filmmaker a comment on Youtube.

© Written by Richard Propes
The Independent Critic