Scrap is an oddly perfect film for this time of year. No, its not a Christmas movie, but it deals with rough family dynamics, secrets, and a reality that feels all too common this particular Christmas — layoffs and homelessness. Written, directed, and starring Vivian Kerr, based on her short film of the same name, the film is a compelling take on modern family economics.
Beth (Kerr) is a single mom living out of her car after a layoff financially devastates her. She is able to shield her daughter from her current living situation by dropping her off at her brother’s house. Though Ben (Anthony Rapp) and his wife Stacy (Lana Parrilla) enjoy having their niece in their home, Beth’s lack of communication and flakey behaviour irritates them as they struggle to conceive their own child. When another job interview falls through and with her daughter’s tuition payment being due, Beth moves back into her brother’s house – all the while trying to keep this news from him.
Kerr’s involvement in this project comes to her detriment. While it’s beautifully shot, some of the dialogue and her performance come off as cliché. Beth can be an aggravating character at times and when the dialogue is too on the nose, it can make the role all the more frustrating to watch. We spend a lot of time with Beth — and that seems to be where the pacing lags, making a 90-minute runtime feel longer.
It’s really nice to see Khleo Thomas on the silver screen again. You may recognize him as “Zero” from Holes or his social media presence. He gives a calm, natural performance as Marcus, Beth’s love interest. His delivery is never wooden and makes you wonder why we haven’t seen more of him.
But the two standouts of Scrap are Anthony Rapp and Lana Parrilla. Their chemistry and believability as a married couple are what grounds this film, even more than Beth’s relationship with her brother. Parrilla, who is known for playing strong-willed female characters with a diva side, is a bit softer here, navigating the frustrating communication between her husband and his sister with infertility. She’s more vulnerable than we’ve ever seen her onscreen before. Rapp is just as good, portraying an unfulfilled author with snarky bewilderment. While Kerr’s own performance and dialogue lack polish, she rightly chooses the right people to surround herself with, making the film better than it would be otherwise.
Scrap is available now on digital.
