Ethan's (Harrison J. Thomas) best friend, Melody (Emily Constantine), was found dead after having been missing for two days. He's overcome with guilt because Melody had been planning to see him when she disappeared. Ethan finds a unique way to cope with the loss of his best friend and the self-condemnation that comes from believing it was his fault. Plus, he finishes writing one of Melody's songs. This is a really amazing story that copes with grief, guilt and loss. I absolutely love that, because Melody liked writing songs, after her death, Ethan takes it upon himself to finish a song she hadn't finished. The shot that impressed me the most is the close-up of Ethan's phone lighting up with Melody's last-ever text before the camera pans over to a sleeping Ethan. That's really when I went, "oh no." We see it in such a way that the plot is even more dramatic. I think that piece of cinematography was a very good choice on the director's part. Melody's last texts were: "Ha! I knew you'd change your mind." "I can see you in the bushes." "Ethan is that you?" "This isn't funny Ethan." "Ethan." The camera panning from the texts to a sleeping Ethan, combined with the dramatic music in the background is a great addition to the plot.
There is one location that stands out. There's a flashback to Ethan and Melody talking, sitting with their backs to a tree. Later, after Melody's death, Ethan goes back there with a picture of her. This leads viewers to believe it's the same tree and that the two friends probably spent a lot of time there.
I really love the dramatic background music as the camera pans from Ethan's phone lit up with text messages from Melody to a sleeping Ethan. I think it really helps dramatize the plot, as well as adds some suspense. I wasn't so keen on the song at the end of the film, "Melody Theme." It is integral to the storyline as this is the song that Ethan finished for Melody after her death. I just didn't love it. The melody is good but the lyrics and the vocals fall short. The lyrics feel very basic - not very unique, original or well thought-out.
Ethan's dad (Brendan Cooney) seems very worried about Ethan throughout the film. He mentions that Ethan isn't coping well and hasn't even cried yet. Later in the film, Ethan's dad cries, begging Ethan to come back, to eat something, to do anything! But Ethan doesn't say a word and just turns back to his piano. Eventually it becomes clear that Ethan isn't talking, eating, or doing anything besides playing piano because he was working on Melody's song. He leaves in the middle of Melody's funeral to go to the tree where he spent so much time with her. He talks to her photograph and tells her that he finished her song and finally, at that moment he cries. That shows growth in his character as he is starting to cope. He goes from showing no emotion and not talking to crying and singing. It's a step. There are multiple stages of grief and they don't necessarily take place in any order. He's going through them.
I am so impressed by Harrison J. Thomas. The film trailer includes a few clips of Harrison answering questions about his film. He sounds smart and carries himself well. Sometimes when I hear that a kid made a film, I think their parents must have done a lot of the work but you can clearly tell that's not the case here. I love his script and I am super impressed by his resume at such a young age. He speaks highly of the people who work with him which is a sign of good character. My favorite part of the film is the scene that shows Melody's last text messages and then pans to a sleeping Ethan. The film's message is about how you can't control everything. Bad things are inevitably going to happen. Some things are just "acts of God." Sometimes you have to let things take their course and let fate decide. The only thing you can control is yourself. Everything else is never 100% predictable. Programmers should be aware that there are some issues that might be problematic. Melody sneaks out in the middle of the night to meet her friend. She goes missing and is found dead two days later. The "risky thing kids might imitate" is sneaking out. But the film also does a pretty good job of showing the consequences that sneaking out might have so I actually think this would serves as a warning against doing so. I give Melody 4.5 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 8 to 18, plus adults. Watching this film could be educational as it could possibly deter children from sneaking out in secret after seeing what happened to Melody when she does that. By Alma K., KIDS FIRST!
Ethan's (Harrison J. Thomas) best friend, Melody (Emily Constantine), was found dead after having been missing for two days. He's overcome with guilt because Melody had been planning to see him when she disappeared. Ethan finds a unique way to cope with the loss of his best friend and the self-condemnation that comes from believing it was his fault. Plus, he finishes writing one of Melody's songs. This is a really amazing story that copes with grief, guilt and loss. I absolutely love that, because Melody liked writing songs, after her death, Ethan takes it upon himself to finish a song she hadn't finished. The shot that impressed me the most is the close-up of Ethan's phone lighting up with Melody's last-ever text before the camera pans over to a sleeping Ethan. That's really when I went, "oh no." We see it in such a way that the plot is even more dramatic. I think that piece of cinematography was a very good choice on the director's part. Melody's last texts were: "Ha! I knew you'd change your mind." "I can see you in the bushes." "Ethan is that you?" "This isn't funny Ethan." "Ethan." The camera panning from the texts to a sleeping Ethan, combined with the dramatic music in the background is a great addition to the plot.
There is one location that stands out. There's a flashback to Ethan and Melody talking, sitting with their backs to a tree. Later, after Melody's death, Ethan goes back there with a picture of her. This leads viewers to believe it's the same tree and that the two friends probably spent a lot of time there.
I really love the dramatic background music as the camera pans from Ethan's phone lit up with text messages from Melody to a sleeping Ethan. I think it really helps dramatize the plot, as well as adds some suspense. I wasn't so keen on the song at the end of the film, "Melody Theme." It is integral to the storyline as this is the song that Ethan finished for Melody after her death. I just didn't love it. The melody is good but the lyrics and the vocals fall short. The lyrics feel very basic - not very unique, original or well thought-out.
Ethan's dad (Brendan Cooney) seems very worried about Ethan throughout the film. He mentions that Ethan isn't coping well and hasn't even cried yet. Later in the film, Ethan's dad cries, begging Ethan to come back, to eat something, to do anything! But Ethan doesn't say a word and just turns back to his piano. Eventually it becomes clear that Ethan isn't talking, eating, or doing anything besides playing piano because he was working on Melody's song. He leaves in the middle of Melody's funeral to go to the tree where he spent so much time with her. He talks to her photograph and tells her that he finished her song and finally, at that moment he cries. That shows growth in his character as he is starting to cope. He goes from showing no emotion and not talking to crying and singing. It's a step. There are multiple stages of grief and they don't necessarily take place in any order. He's going through them.
I am so impressed by Harrison J. Thomas. The film trailer includes a few clips of Harrison answering questions about his film. He sounds smart and carries himself well. Sometimes when I hear that a kid made a film, I think their parents must have done a lot of the work but you can clearly tell that's not the case here. I love his script and I am super impressed by his resume at such a young age. He speaks highly of the people who work with him which is a sign of good character. My favorite part of the film is the scene that shows Melody's last text messages and then pans to a sleeping Ethan. The film's message is about how you can't control everything. Bad things are inevitably going to happen. Some things are just "acts of God." Sometimes you have to let things take their course and let fate decide. The only thing you can control is yourself. Everything else is never 100% predictable. Programmers should be aware that there are some issues that might be problematic. Melody sneaks out in the middle of the night to meet her friend. She goes missing and is found dead two days later. The "risky thing kids might imitate" is sneaking out. But the film also does a pretty good job of showing the consequences that sneaking out might have so I actually think this would serves as a warning against doing so. I give Melody 4.5 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 8 to 18, plus adults. Watching this film could be educational as it could possibly deter children from sneaking out in secret after seeing what happened to Melody when she does that. By Alma K., KIDS FIRST!
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