In truth I could kind of see where the short film from director Rodney Wess was headed, but “The Hidden Chapter” has enough potential to be a solid crime thriller, that I saw it to the end, either way. Though the film does have occasional sound problems, and some editing issues, Rodney Wess does compose a clever and sharp crime thriller short that goes beyond your normal tale of cat and mouse.
It manages to combine various themes and story elements in to one really interesting thriller, while also garnering some competent performances from the cast. Rachel West plays Carissa Carter, an aspiring author who takes it upon herself to interview ex-serial killer Joseph Logan every day to investigate his crimes for the sake of her novel. And he’s more than willing to oblige her investigations and provide insight in to his past and his novel, that could help Carissa complete her novel altogether.
By the second sequence involving the interview, I predicted where the twist would take us, but the performances and dynamic between West and co-star Michael Vasicek is too good to really write off, in the end. “The Hidden Chapter” is a clever take on the crime thriller, and one that could be stretched in to a feature length film with enough creativity and crafty devices. Despite occasional issues with editing and sound, “The Hidden Chapter” is a solid short crime thriller with a pair of competent performances by Rachel West and Michael Vasicek, both of whom really tie the story together.