The Connection is a 2021 American sci-fi thriller film about two strangers who suddenly gain unimaginable powers and a psychic bond.
Written, directed by and co-starring Nicholas Naylor (Illusions), the movie also stars Laura Stetman (American Bigfoot; Todd; Hell Phone), Joel D. Wynkoop and producer Rod Grant.
Plot:
One night two people’s worlds change forever as a mysterious light in the woods connects the two in a way far beyond their understanding. As they set out to get their lives back to normal, they find the connection is the only normal they may ever know again…
Review:
A talky item that sometimes uses its low budget to fairly good effect, The Connection was made in the Tampa/Clearwater part of Florida, rendered in actor-director Nicholas Naylor’s lenses as a minimalist scape of back roads, gas stations and dismal motels.
Such is the boondocks USA environment where a mini-boom of violent crime happens. The rather bumbling local sheriffs and lawmen trace the dark deeds to a vagabonding couple, hard-luck Vera (Laura Stetman) and burly nice guy Foster (Naylor).
Both came across a glowing object on the ground at night and, oddly, neither can recall the other’s presence at the random UFO encounter. But afterwards, the two young strangers feel strangely drawn to each other, and discover that they now possess not only a sort of empathic telepathy but can also focus their brain waves on other people – sometimes rendering victims harmlessly unconscious but other times killing them, or driving them into a state of incurable psychosis.
Because both Vera and Foster are in the pained aftermaths of bad romantic breakups, each harbours a lot of trigger issues and hidden rage. It is the sadder, needier Vera, however, who starts elevating the body count (female-of-the-species-deadlier-than-the male, etc.; you may think twice about this movie for date nite). Naylor keeps the nasty stuff almost completely offscreen, and does not even try to reach beyond his grasp with bargain-rate spaceship f/x; the glowing mystery thing is only mentioned, not shown.
There is something to be said for the tasteful restraint and attempt to get under the skins of the characters, rather than just unleashing mayhem in a formulaic yarn of mental superpowers out of control.
Fans of the vintage 1950s Twilight Zone TV series might 
appreciate the material, and perhaps ponder that the plot could have held up well at half-hour-episode length; the feature run-time is stretching things a bit. Nonetheless, a sequel has been announced.
Charles Cassady Jr, MOVIES & MANIA
Trailer:
Clip:
Release date:
The Connection was released in the USA On-Demand via Midnight Releasing on March 2nd 2021.
Cast and characters:
Laura Stetman … Vera; Nicholas Naylor … Foster; Joel D. Wynkoop … Puller; Rod Grant … Gallagher; Zachary Vazquez … Mathew; Evette Young … Tracy; Angela Podnar … Store Customer; Emily Pedone … Molly; Nautic Von Horn … Diner patron; Nicholas Gabriel Velasquez … Motel Guest; Rick Danford … Diner Patron; Russell D. Mercier … Sheriff Staff; Jeshua Vargas … Store Clerk; Brie Burke … Store Patron; Steve Heinz … Crime Scene Witness
External reviews:
Mr Geeky
To Tony Productions
Discover more from MOVIES & MANIA
Subscribe to get the latest posts to your email.
