Review: Mark Battle's "Here Lies Joe"

The short film Here Lies Joe touches on a subject matter that, unfortunately, hits very close to home for me...Suicide. The good news is that it manages to entertain while at the same time send a message of hope.

In the 23 minute film Dean Temple plays the title character--a depressed man who finds himself attending a support group where he meets Z (Andi Morrow) who turns his plans for the day upside down.

Director Mark Battle, who also co-wrote the script with Pamela Conway, uses what he has here and produces great product. The chemistry between Battle and Morrow is off the chart. The duo play meet cute in an oddly effective way given the subject matter--Some Hollywood produced rom-coms have less of that key element with a two hour narrative than "Joe" has within its format.

Battle's cinematography deserves a mention as well--the film makes the most out of its New Hampshire and Massachusetts locales.  The film deserves your attention--once it has it--hopefully the all important conversation can begin.....

Timothy J. Cox, Mary Hronicek, and J.P. Valenti also appear in the film. You can check out the trailer and the Sweven Films Facebook page for additional information about this talented team.

If you, or someone you know is having difficulty, please reach out to the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline by calling 1-800-273-8255