“12 Hour Shift” is a dark comedy-thriller about a nurse who works the night shift at a hospital during the 1990s. She gets involved in the black market organ trade and has to navigate the chaos that ensues. The movie is fast-paced, full of twists and turns, and keeps you on the edge of your seat. The performances are sharp, the humor is dark, and it’s a thrilling ride from start to finish.
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Review
In the world of independent cinema, there are movies that stand out because of their unique voice and storytelling. 12 Hour Shift, directed by Brea Grant and starring Angela Bettis, David Arquette and Chloe Farnworth, is one such film. The movie explores the dark and twisted world of nursing in a hospital in Arkansas in the late 90s.
The storyline starts with a nurse named Mandy (Bettis) who is addicted to painkillers and supplements her addiction by stealing pills from patients. Her life takes an unexpected turn when she gets involved in a black market organ harvesting scheme with her cousin Regina (Farnworth), who’s an ambulance driver. Their plan goes awry when they fail to deliver a kidney to a buyer on time.
The plot is both gruesome and humorous as it depicts the characters’ personalities flawlessly. The movie keeps its audience at edge as it oscillates between comedy, action, suspense, and drama.
The fact that most of the crew hail from Arkansas adds authenticity to the portrayal of the characters’ cultural background. Brea Grant, being born in Marshalltown in Iowa is no stranger to portraying strong women onscreen. A quote from her regarding directing reveals her intentions with this film: “I want more women behind cameras because that’s going to create deeper female roles in front of cameras”.
The acting is superb with Angela Bettis’s performance as Mandy being the standout. She captures the complexity of her character’s addiction flawlessly while also showcasing Mandy’s kindness towards other patients.
David Arquette’s portrayal of Jefferson, a security guard who gets mixed up in illegal activities at work, helps elevate moments that could otherwise seem goofy into something much more intriguing.
Chloe Farnworth was also able to hold her ground amongst seasoned actors like Bettis and Arquette as Regina.
12 Hour Shift premiered at Fantasia International Film Festival on September 20th, 2020, and gained mixed reviews. The film’s popularity grew as it was screened in various festivals and gained a cult following thereafter.
The cinematography for 12 Hour Shift is top-notch, with Jeremy Osbern capturing the grittiness of the hospital setting while still making it visually appealing. The choice of colors used during certain scenes also evokes emotions that help convey the characters’ mental state.
The score by Matt Glass adds tension and excitement to the storyline, enhancing the film’s pace.
Many critics praised Brea Grant’s writing and direction, calling her a talent to watch out for in independent cinema. However, some felt that the script had some minor flaws like disjointed pacing and predictable plot twists.
The development of characters like Mandy and Regina keeps the audience invested in their stories throughout the runtime. One scene that stands out is when Mandy tries to hide from a patient to avoid getting caught stealing their medication. It serves as a perfect example of how well-executed suspenseful scenes can elevate a movie’s overall quality.
As for special effects, they’re not overwhelming or excessive but just enough to drive home an idea or concept in an engaging way. The focus on character development allows for everything else to fall into place quite nicely.
The production team deserves credit too for creating realistic hospital sets that transport viewers right into the heart of things.
12 Hour Shift ultimately proves to be an exciting movie that keeps its audience engaged throughout its runtime. With many great performances from all involved, behind-the-scenes talent such as Brea Grant makes us excited about what else she has up her sleeves next time around on directing duty.
Technical Data
- Runtime : 88
- Release : 2020-10-02
- Genre : Thriller, Horror, Comedy, Crime
- Cast : Angela Bettis as Mandy, David Arquette as Jefferson, Chloe Farnworth as Regina, Mick Foley as Nicholas, Kit Williamson as Officer Meyers
- Crew : David Arquette as Producer, Brea Grant as Director, Brea Grant as Writer, Tara Perry as Producer, Michael May as Co-Producer
- Popularity 18.323
- Budget : 0
- Revenue : 0
- Company : HCT Media
- Summary : It’s 1999 and over the course of one 12-hour shift at an Arkansas hospital, a junkie nurse, her scheming cousin and a group of black market organ-trading criminals start a heist that could lead to their collective demise.
- Tagline : Pull your shift together.
