“We have just learned of a massive release of nuclear warheads, authorized by the United States.”

Those are the grim words uttered at the beginning of the short Supercritical. Heightening our anxiety (and our blood pressure), the stakes continue to stack, as we see names and faces being crossed out in red, and radio static cutting into the broadcast as the sound of sirens close in on us. Heavy sighs are emitted, temples are rubbed, and we see a lone scientist stooping over a tape recorder with a defeated look in her eyes.

The scientist clicks on a tape recorder. “Official Entry for Shelter 0126M.” She already sounds so tired. “Logging the date as, uh… July 7th. Two months to the days that the bombs fell.” As she continues to list off the facts of the situation, it seems that the world as portrayed is getting more hopeless and hopeless. Depleted stores. Toxic fumes on the surface. Failing employee retention rates. Can there be any spark of light in this demoralizing time?

What happens next is hilarious, but I can’t tell you about it. It would spoil the surprise. Instead, I will tell you this.

Supercritical is the debut short film from southern-born director, writer, and editor John Osment. Osment graduated from the Oregon College of Art & Craft with a BFA in Fine Art and a minor in Photography, and is currently a video editor in New York City. I have to say that for a debut short film, Supercritical is masterfully executed. The amount of care that’s put into the production design and mood setting shows a high level of craft. Even the smallest detail, like the crumpled up quality to a piece of paper, adds to the story in a way that puts a smile to my face. Perhaps it has something to do with Osment’s previous work in the commercial industry, working with clients like Netflix and Apple - where every second counts, as short as they are. Indeed, it almost feels like a pilot sketch for a TV series you would watch on Hulu - it’s just quick, snappy, to-the-point, and fun. Not a second is wasted - there is no single shot that lingers on for longer than it should.

What inspired such a short? In a director’s statement from Osment, he says, “I have a lot of love for snappy comedies and wanted to bring something traditionally experienced in our day jobs into an interesting setting.” Elaborating, he goes on to state, “It’s a not-so-subtle play on what it feels like to be bothered by nonsense while dealing with… everything.” I have to say, the satire of Supercritical is well-supported by the current atmosphere of things. Every day we seem to learn about a new world-ending tragedy, and our choices are just… to deal with it. To actively put our heads in the sand. To whistle and pretend like everything is a-ok, and to only pay mind to the small things that we can handle, because the big things are too much. Supercritical feels like one of those shorts that appears at the right time in the right place - that reassures us that we are seen, and we are heard, while giving us a little noogie on the head along the way.

This is all to say, you should go watch the short for yourself. I’m not joking! You really should! Don’t just sit here and read me waxing poetic about this all day. Go take the 7 minutes out of your day to see what the hype is about for yourself. I promise that it will be worth it.

Supercritical screens at the Spring 2025 New Jersey Film Festival on Saturday, January 25.  The film will be Online for 24 Hours on this show date and In-Person at 7 PM in Voorhees Hall #105/Rutgers University, 71 Hamilton Street, New Brunswick, NJ. Tickets are available for purchase here.

The 43rd Bi-Annual New Jersey Film Festival will be taking place on select Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays between January 24-February 21, 2025. The Festival will be a hybrid one as it will be presented online as well as doing in-person screenings at Rutgers University. All the films will be available virtually via Video on Demand for 24 hours on their show date. VoD start times are at 12 Midnight Eastern USA. Each General Admission Ticket or Festival Pass purchased is good for both the virtual and the in-person screenings. Plus, acclaimed singer-songwriter Renee Maskin will be doing an audio-visual concert on Friday, February 21 at 7PM! The in-person screenings and the Renee Maskin concert will be held in Voorhees Hall #105/Rutgers University, 71 Hamilton Street, New Brunswick, NJ beginning at 5PM or 7PM on their show date. General Admission Ticket=$15 Per Program; Festival All Access Pass=$100; In-Person Only Student Ticket=$10 Per Program. 

For more info go here: https://newjerseyfilmfestivalspring2025.eventive.org/welcome