Most of these short films from established or aspiring directors aren't so much about delivering a story in a short form, but about presenting an example to big studios of what they can do and what they can accomplish on-screen if ever given the chance at a bigger budget. Short films can be a display for studio heads on how they can implement their stars and effects on a moderate budget, and it works more often than not. Christian Swegal's short science fiction thriller is basically "Manchurian Candidate" with a bit of "Bourne Identity" thrown in for good measure along with a touch of Phillip K. Dick in which the reality we see may not be an actual world in which our character occupies, and vice versa. Our main character Henry awakens at a local base to be interrogated by a doctor and visited by a mysterious stranger, both of whom are attempting to bring Henry his memories back and discover something about him that not even he knows. Beyond images that fade in and out of his consciousness about being with an absolutely beautiful and angelic woman, Henry is confused as to how he ended up in this position.

As we venture in to Henry's desperate grasp for this woman's life while attempting to pull off this heinous crime, Henry is confronted with the truth of his life. Painted in vivid and often dream-like shades of gray and green, Swegal keeps the entirety of "Stasis" feeling like one complete dream where the dreams may be real, and the reality may just be only a dream. Perhaps we're viewing the delusions of a war broken soldier who can't stop thinking about his trauma, or perhaps we're watching a man stuck in an eternal grasp with a life with he will never have. With sharp performances from Ernie Hudson and Beau Bridges along with a tumultuous performance from Reshad Strik, "Stasis" is a film left to the audiences interpretation in the end, and Swegal leaves the ending nothing but an endless loop of hopes, wishes, and nightmares.

In spite of being something of a knock off of "Manchurian Candidate," Christian Swegal's science fiction thriller is an absolute visual feast with striking special effects, a mind bending premise, and top notch performances from its respective cast.