From minute one, Matt McUsic places his characters on a slippery slope that we know will become an utterly downhill battle from the pitch. We’re not sure what will happen, but we’re sure that there’s trouble brewing, and the predicament our characters have worked themselves in will backfire at any moment. “Shamelove” is a murky and utterly dreary film, and McUsic has a sheer talent for storytelling, providing a very grim glimpse at this group of friends. Though they’re all very likable, they’re not particularly people you’d want to be around, McUsic establishes, and it reflects well from the excellent performances from the entire cast. Kyle just arrived back home to find that all of his friends are basically living and living well, and craves the same lush habitat they’re surrounded in. After a few botched attempts to meet women, and an incident at a party, Kyle devises a plan.

How could a plan like this fail? The results aren’t immediate, but they’re a slowly building bomb shell, that progresses into a rather eerie thriller that McUsic handles with finesse, while using the rather desolate night of the city to his favor. It also helps that there’s an exceptional score by Cyril Morin, which keeps the film tightly wound, and always at an even pace. There are also the great performances from the whole cast, including Leonard Wu as the more conflicted Ramon, and Joe Lia who is rather sympathetic as Kyle, but it’s Kristian Capalik who steals the show as an otherwise amoral prick Jeff, who feels emasculated by the fact that the plan never worked out as well for him as it does for his friends, and experiences a slow decline into cruel practices that begin to turn the plan on its head.

He's a man who is so in love with himself, and his own ego, that he sees nothing wrong in anything he does in the film, including his inevitable turn. Capalik was well casted here, and gives a standout among a strong cast. “Shamelove” is a difficult sell from the premise, because it’s a movie that could have easily been mishandled and botched, but McUsic leaves no stone and unturned and always stays in a logical area of storytelling, all the while progressing his story with confident pacing, and exploring takes on morality, secrets, and how the road to hell is paved with good intentions.

Matt McUsic's drama thriller is a very good take on morality, and double standards, as well a grim picture of "good" plans gone awry, set amidst a gritty backdrop. Great performances, a top notch score, and ace direction make this award winner a gem that deserves to be discovered.

• For more information on "Shamelove" including production, cast info, and festival
  dates, visit the official website.

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