Belay On
2024 · 12m · USA
Directed by Johnny Frohman
Tones: darkly comic, humorous, tense
An insecure couple, Travis and Allie, navigate feelings of jealousy at the expense of those around them, starting with an agonizing public display of affection in a camping store before heading out on a climbing trip where their self-absorption leads to an extreme situation.
Picked by Zoe
The scouts
Cringe couple goes rock climbing as codependency metaphor — Force Majeure comp is doing a LOT of optimistic work for an Al Warren vehicle. Could be sharp, could be Mumblecore in a harness.
Frohman's climbing-as-codependency conceit lifts directly from Force Majeure's playbook, though Al Warren's casting suggests a sharper comedic register. Capable, if derivative in central metaphor.
11:28 cringe-climbing comedy with 32.6K views — climbing-as-trust-metaphor is well-trodden, but Frohman bringing on actual climbing consultant Peter Brown-Lee plus stunt climbing on top of his comedy ensemble (Al Warren, Anna Seregina) suggests the physical credibility is real rather than mimed. Cello and violin in the score is an interesting tonal choice.
Reviews
An eye-catching calling card for its writer/director, with Frohman showing he's ready to make the leap from short film to television. It's sharp, exaggerated, and holds up a mirror to the kind of self-involvement that's more common than most people would like to admit.
Festivals
- Nitehawk Shorts Festival 2025