Can a short film be a director's masterpiece? When CJ Roy is directing it can. CJ has already cut his teeth directing music videos for the bands In Like Sin, Luminar, Never and Soul Asunder. Short films like i Bitch and Human have wowed audiences at filmfests. ROADSIDE ATTRACTIONS combines the all the visual style of a music video with a flair for telling dark, twisted, and humorous tales. In fact, if ROADSIDE ATTRACTIONS was condensed to four minutes it would make a great music video. The story would also make a great comic book.
A quiet stranger enters a diner carrying a crystal ball. The visual metaphor of this object: religion, lifestyle,philosophy, etc. The mullets who make fun of the stranger are the same bullies we've all encountered. They imply that the man must be a psycho, which he is. Yet, the blending of music, performance and visuals allow us to empathise with him. The mullets may be laughing at him, but we are laughing with him. It's not every director who can do that. The music in the film will have you wanting to replay this. So will the visuals. Like Spike Jonze, CJ Roy should have a bright future. Whether he continues doing videos and shorts or can expand this kind of experience to feature length is immaterial.
