“Westhampton” is a new film starring Finn Wittrock, RJ Mitte and Jake Weary, which was written and directed by Christian Nilsson. It had its world premiere on Saturday, June 7th at the Tribeca Film Festival in New York.
The synopsis is: Years after leaving his Long Island hometown to chase his dream as a filmmaker, Tom Bell (Finn Wittrock) is down on his luck as a director.
Unable to replicate the success of his breakout film, Tom remains haunted by guilt from the high school accident that inspired it.
As the black and white 16mm of Tom’s film creates a dreamlike, heightened connection to the past, his return to Westhampton forces him to confront buried secrets, broken relationships, and the past he is trying to rewrite.
Finn Wittrock delivers a tour de force performance as Tom Bell; he layers his emotions well, and immerses the audience in the movie while doing so. Wittrock also served as an executive producer on this project.
RJ Mitte plays the bartender Fitz in a raw, controlled, and refreshing manner, which is unlike any character he has previously played before. Simply put, RJ Mitte is a quiet storm.
Jake Weary is impressive as Dickie, while Amy Forsyth is sublime as Avery, and Roxanne Schiebergen is memorable as Beth. Veteran actors Tovah Feldshuh and Dan Lauria also star in “Westhampton.”
Everybody in this cast brings something distinct and worthwhile to the story. At times, it feels like a movie within a movie.
While it is a slow burner, everything will make sense in the end, with a few twists and turns that nobody will see coming… and it will all be worth it.
The Verdict
Overall, “Westhampton” is a captivating film from start to finish; moreover, it’s a compelling story about guilt, misapprehension, redemption, morality, and coming to terms with the truth.
The acting performances all around are exceptional, and kudos to Christian Nilsson, who emerges as a master provocateur, for his specific vision in bringing this unflinching tale to life.
It explores moral values and the unsettling truth, and it will certainly spark conversations among viewers.
There is something in it for everybody, especially those that live on Long Island (which serves as its own character in the story, as opposed to simply being a backdrop). “Westhampton” garners 4.5 out of 5 stars.
