As a fan of cult disasterpiece “The Room”, I naturally devoured “Best F(r)iends,” which was released in two volumes in 2017 and 2018. Seeing Tommy Wiseau and Greg Sestero together on screen again for the madcap genius of that film was everything a fan could want, but the latest film from director Justin MacGregor is an entirely different kind of movie.
Framing the main narrative are interviews with the fictional author and missing persons expert Declan Bakker (Greg Sestero), a man who speaks with a misty-eyed wistfulness about the unexplained phenomena in some of the cases he has investigated. This includes unexplained flashing lights and cases of missing persons turning up sometimes decades later with no memory of what happened to them. Alongside this is the story of veteran-turned-cop Jack (Rick Edwards), whose camping trip with his family takes a dark turn when his grandson, Kristian (James Jarvis), goes missing.
The events leading up to Kristian’s disappearance have a stifling sense of foreboding, which is supported by the moody and atmospheric cinematography. Yet as Jack becomes consumed by searching for his missing grandson, the moments of human drama are punctuated with moments of surrealism — bizarre flashing lights suggesting something otherworldly is at play, that is before the sinister truth behind the disappearance is revealed.
“The Founder Effect” is one of those rare films that has the confidence not to hold the audience’s hand. It doesn’t seek to deliver all the answers, and many questions remain as the credits roll. What is perhaps most surprising about this film is the way it explores the idea of being lost — not just in the literal sense that Kristian is, but in an emotional way as well. In a brief flashback scene, we see Jack’s son (Stefan Reindl) — whom Jack describes as being lost in plain sight — taking his own life. We also see Declan throughout the film, who despite the dedication to his work seems to be burdened by it, masking a deep sadness that isn’t fully explained. Our lead character, Jack, is also adrift, battling the loneliness of parental survival guilt.
As the film reaches its climax, with Jack embarking on his one-man revenge mission to recover his grandson, there is considerably more emphasis placed on the emotional weight of this task than you might expect, and the film wisely avoids too much visible bloodshed. The result is a film that is a powerful meditation on grief, loss, and familial love that is anchored by the brilliant performance of its leading man. Edwards is devastatingly good in this film, exuding raw emotion and an unspoken pain that is etched all over his face.
“The Founder Effect” is a real gem of a movie, one that leaves a lasting impression, and one that will have even more to offer on a second viewing.
Sarah Saw a Movie 
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