Some Southern Waters is a haunting movie about love and loss. The directorial debut from Julian Baner is about a young musician named Jon. After his girlfriend dies in a car accident, Jon is haunted by the guilt. Baner’s story sounds like a risky one. There are many movies that deal with similar themes. Some Southern Waters is able to stand apart from similar movies. It refuses to go all in on the melodrama and even injects some comedy.
This does not mean it is not without emotion, however. Some Southern Waters is an intimate film. Jon’s journey is a heartfelt one. There is a genuine sense of love and loss that makes the story endearing even in its most surreal moments. Adding to the tone of Some Southern Waters is the great cinematography. Shooting in black and white adds to the atmosphere while the soundtrack is perfect for the premise. The film is the perfect mix of style and substance.
This is seen throughout the film. The dialogue is smart and witty without ever being tiresome. This is especially noticeable since silence is such an important part of Some Southern Water’s charm. There are clear influences throughout the movie, but it never feels like a knock off. It is a thin line between being derivative and original. Baner is able to pull it off well.
As good as the movie is, it does not always flow smoothly. Some scenes almost seem to be competing with the film’s theme to be the main focus. This leads to a lack of cohesiveness. This does not diminish the creativity of the production. Some Southern Waters is a wonderfully crafted film. There are some shortfalls along the way, bit nothing that takes away from the experience. The story and look of the film make this a micro budget.
Looking at cult’s from a different point of view
Become a patron today to get exclusive perks, like access to our exclusive Discord community and our monthly comic book club, ad-free browsing on aiptcomics.com, a physical trade paperback sent to your house every month, and more!
