Set in a world that could tangibly be a near future, or at the very least working as an alternative now, Lapsis explores the nature and hardships of the gig economy. Ray (Dean Imperial) is a delivery driver struggling to support both himself and his sick younger brother. In dire need of finding a way to pay his brother’s astronomical medical fees, Ray signs up to a job as a ‘cabler’. This strange new career path has been created to support the world’s growing reliance on Quantum technology and involves walking reels of cable through the wilderness in exchange for cash. Things begin well for Ray at first, but then those around him begin to treat him differently, and after being assigned a particularly long route he finds himself in a battle of wills with a robot intent on claiming the route for itself.
Really smart and inventive science-fiction doesn’t come along all that often, and so when it does it is always a welcome surprise. Writer and director Noah Hutton has certainly struck gold here as Lapsis is wonderfully unique and sure to be a future entry in indie science-fiction lists, sitting comfortably next to films like Primer and The Endless. The film demonstrates Hutton’s keen eye and voice, effortlessly creating an entire new alternative universe that is easily recognisable to us. Every detail has been painstakingly thought through and this new world is so richly layered it encourages viewer exploration offering surprise after surprise. This fictional other place is populated with all kinds of peculiar new technology that, as with the world itself, feels dangerously familiar.
At the heart of this strange tale is a brilliant performance by Dean Imperial. His character Ray is the sole focus of the feature, Imperial being present in every scene. There are big chunks of the film where it is just Ray wandering alone through the wilderness and Imperial still manages to retain the viewer’s attention. His performance as Ray is that of the ultimate down-trodden everyman. By the end of the first scene we’re already on-board with Ray and the inclusion of the paternal bond he has to his sickly younger brother strengthens the audience’s warm feelings towards him. The connection to Ray is an important one as it helps anchor the viewer to something recognisable amidst the confusing environment.
Lapsis has a lot to say, and says it in a dynamic and interesting way. There’s little in the way of explanation; the exposition around Ray’s line of work is kept brief and vague, and arises in organic, rather than forced ways. Science-fiction films have the tendency to be overly wordy, but with Lapsis Hutton keeps details close to his chest. What isn’t kept hidden is the overarching message of the piece. Hutton offers a story that works as a great allegory for the Amazon gig-economy way of working, highlighting the very real horrors faced by workers across the globe. Science-fiction is always at its best when it has something to say and the challenge laid down by Hutton is enough to give Jeff Bezos a sleepless night or two.
Signature Entertainment presents Lapsis on Digital Platforms 5th July.
Lapsis
Summary
Strange, quirky, and mysterious, Lapsis is one of those rare films that feels entirely unlike anything else that you’ve watched.
