Adjusted (2009) User Reviews

An interesting and atypical thriller short from Chris R. Notarile

[Woodyanders · 8/10 · 10 March 2011]

Mild-mannered David Britman (a sound performance by David Warchol) descends into madness and delusion after he discovers his wife Alison (well played by lovely blonde Johanna Telander) cheating on him with Chad (hunky Sean Affleck). This film represents a nice and refreshing change of pace for Do-It-Yourself indie auteur Chris R. Notarile: It's more moody and slowly paced than your usual Notarile fare, with a noted emphasis on the believably mundane characters, realistic dialogue, and a strong feeling of melancholic regret over the expected slam-bang action and a snappy sense of momentum. Fortunately, the uniformly fine acting keeps things engrossing throughout: Warchol makes for a pitiable lead (one can't help but feel sorry for this poor passive schmo as his world falls apart around him), Telander impresses as the unfaithful spouse and even manages to make a potentially hateful character fairly sympathetic, and the always reliable Kim Santiago lends sturdy support as kindly and concerned neighbor Michelle. Moreover, David's mental deterioration is downright painful (and heartbreaking) to watch while his final outburst into violence is both creepy and chilling in equal measure. Notarile's sharp cinematography and Kevin MacLeod's brooding piano score both further enhance the overall solid quality of this effective and admirable out of the ordinary item.