Written and directed by David A. Flores, a young woman works with a digital copy of her mom to investigate the sudden disappearance of her real mom. Starring: Mary Rose Branick and Virginia Newcomb.
The initial concept of creating an AI version of a loved one sounds like something that would be masochistic and punishing, worsening how people get lost in grief. However, David A. Flores takes things in a different direction, instead having Kaitlyn (Mary Rose Branick) attempt to use it logically to determine where her missing mother is. It’s an interesting change of pace and works surprisingly well.
It would be difficult not to immediately draw comparisons to Searching and Missing, especially in how it uses a very technologically influenced perspective. Likeness would actually make a great companion to those films, it has a similar atmosphere and pacing. Flores does a great job of tapping into suspicion, tension and adding a little danger. The cinematography from Carrie Morgan Glassman has a superb focus and clarity, it’s a sharp aesthetic which doesn’t need a lot of decoration.
Mary Rose Branick leads Likeness with a lot of confidence, creating a sympathetic and strong character. Not unlike Missing’s June (Storm Reid), she makes logical choices, she portrays the deep frustration and concerns of her character without completely losing her personality to them. She’s incredibly strong willed and very easy to watch, and is paired well with Virginia Newcomb, who does a great job of creating separation between Fiona and the AI generated version of her.
The only potential weakness is the ending, it feels as though it’s handing us too much and losing its impact. It felt like it was going to leave things slightly vague to let the moment land but then chooses to give all the details. Ultimately wandering into sentimental territory which slightly lets down the strengths it had built up until that point.
Likeness is a tense, touching story which uses sci-fi inspired technology in an unusual and engaging way. Mary Rose Branick does an excellent job building the heart of the film and creating a captivating, strong personality who’s effortless to follow. The direction and cinematography are strong, added to a nicely subtle score that adds in a touch of thrill when it’s needed. The ending may not leave things on the strongest note but it’s otherwise a very well made short.
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