Covering the initial outbreak of the Corona virus in Wuhan, “Shut Off” follows a traveling businessman who finds himself trapped in a hotel at the heart of the pandemic. Unable to leave, he has to reach out to an estranged partner to request help for his mother. Through conversations with family, we learn that the man is ill and facing the prospect of a slow death.
“Shut Off” takes a rather personal look at the individual effect the virus had within China, and does well to capture the horror of being stuck in a place, (Wuhan) whose mere mention became synonymous with disease and death. It presents the situation in a sincere way and does not sensationalize the outbreak, but rather focuses on the human response between a family. However, the timing of the release does sit oddly within the timeline of the pandemic and the impact becomes a bit warped within current circumstances. The production seems like a call for empathy for a struggling area of the world, but with the virus becoming a global issue, the call for empathy seems more like a saddening reminder of the scope of what families everywhere are experiencing. Tackling such current affairs in cinema makes the film subjective to the situation as it evolves, and “Shut Off” is going to be met with mixed emotions outside of the filmmaker's intent. However, it should be noted that looking at the film objectively, it captures the desperation and the gravity of the situation with an empathetic tone.
The technical aspects are serviceable to the plot, with both the cinematography and the sound design fitting the production well. The performances follow suite, with none standing out or dragging down the production. However, as previously noted with interpretations changing along with the progress of the pandemic, there is a large degree of anxiety associated with the subject that makes it difficult to critique these aspects when faced with the grim reality effecting the world.
“Shut Off” left me with a lot of mixed emotions, and I wish I could have experienced the project outside of my own personal anxiety. The story is deeply compelling, but again if I was removed from the situation, it is hard to say if the content would have the same emotional impact in my initial experience. For those having difficulty managing any information around Covid-19, this short film should be an immediate skip. Overall, distance from the situation will be the best way to properly approach projects of this nature, but my initial experience was favorable and I commend Thomas J Elliott for taking such a heartfelt and sincere approach to the subject matter. Hopefully, it will help others feel less alone and isolated within the current global blight that is Covid-19.
