Written and directed by Jessica Vogt, co-written by Tom Ransom, after being ejected from her home, pregnant Ursula embarks on a search for her baby’s father, encountering cast-off Noah; together, they confront past choices amid the haunting memory of Ursula’s mother. Starring: Rhiannon Bell, Nick Cornwall, Ellen Williams, Blake Harrison and Joe Bolland.
When indie filmmakers use their budget wisely, creatively and so well in tune with the story they’re trying to tell, it’s immediately noticeable, and Phase is a strong example of that. The set decoration, the costumes, and the physical space are all well designed to create the balance of claustrophobia, isolation and intimacy which Jessica Vogt and Tom Ransom inject into the story. So having the aesthetic immediately set the tone for that, kicks things off very well.
The space, no pun intended, is a key element here because working within those constraints is a challenge not all filmmakers are up to, but Vogt does well to add movement. There’s a mindfulness to the way that Phase moves, giving Rhiannon Bell as Ursula a few different spots to move around and each of them tends to represent different emotional states for her character, it’s considerate and highly effective. At no point does the film feel too closed in or stagnant, it’s able to keep things moving forward, while physically never moving very far.
Part of why it works is the atmosphere, how Vogt and Ransome create the tension of this story and how they evolve that over time. It’s layered to blend notes of mystery and danger into what otherwise is a family drama, and it’s a great mix. Stories like this which can draw in the audience with some curious and ominous notes, while actually telling a story about human connection, grief, anxiety and acceptance. Although, it would have been great to see it delve a little more into the mother-daughter connection and the complicated history there as it feels like we only see a small part of it.
In turn, a key part of why that genre blend and tension work is down to the performances. Rhiannon Bell creates a hugely relatable, sympathetic and captivating lead in Ursula, she’s strong, capable and independent, making her easy to follow. Bell more than likely could have carried Phase entirely on her own, her performance is easily strong enough, but she’s paired very well with Nick Cornwall. Cornwall adds to the mystery, the risk and the drama, his arrival and the unravelling of his intentions, intensifies each different element of the film. There’s also an interesting immediate connection between the two of them, they nicely tap into the empathetic nature of the film.
Phase is a captivating, thoughtful blend of drama and sci-fi, using that futuristic setting to provide a space for intimacy and vulnerability, rather than its usual expansive worlds and complicated tales. Rhiannon Bell and Nick Cornwall both give excellent performances which are grounded and relatable but also inject plenty of tension and suspense. Jessica Vogt employs an understated yet highly effective style, the cinematography (also by Tom Ransom) has a strong nostalgic feel and complements Vogt’s directorial style perfectly. The story is well created, paced well and has a good amount of emotion. It’s clear to see how much thought the filmmakers put into this one and it definitely paid off.
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