★★

Admittedly, Quinn Armstrong’s debut feature-length film, Survival Skills, is one of the more strange and interesting films to arrive in quite some time. Framed around the appearances of an old 1980s law enforcement training video, Survival Skills walks us through a training video a new police officer must watch before officially joining the force.

Narrated by Stacy Keach, a man named Jim Williams (Vayu O’Donnell) stars in the police video. He will be our main subject as Keach walks us through the training videos. Jim has a bizarre, almost robotic demeanor, emblazoned with a cheery wide grin, as does his wife Jenny (Tyra Colar). As we are watching, the film occasionally pauses, rewinds, or has tracking issues - simulating the experience of viewing an old VHS tape.

All is well and good for a bit, but soon the worlds between video and narration and character interaction and the cinematic Fourth Wall blur as one. Keach eventually talks directly to Jim, as if Jim is hearing him in real time. Moments play “off-script” and Jim doesn’t seem to do the things our narrator is instructing him to do.

What is happening here?

For its eventual commentary on policing, and how it can change even the most cheery and optimistic upstart members of law enforcement into jaded, potentially dangerous and/or emotionless individuals, Survival Skills is a film with a strong message, but seemingly caught up in its own tricks and parlor games to truly be effective.

The avant-garde nature of the film is admirable, but proves distancing. So much so, that the points Armstrong is making may be lost on viewers who cannot navigate through all the machinations and obstacles he has placed before them.

Though many have praised Survival Skills and its unbridled ambition, the movie lost me, never completely creating a cohesive experience that made me see any value in all the histrionics Armstrong puts viewers through. As frustrating as the film is, Armstrong could emerge as a filmmaker on-the-rise. His talent is unmistakable. His delivery and ability to remain out of his own way seemingly needs more maturation.

Survival Skills was viewed as part of the Nightstream 2020 Film Festival.