‘Happer’s Comet’ Review: We Live by Night

Except in its ultimate shot, “Happer’s Comet” takes place solely at evening. But if it weren’t for infrequent glimpses of clocks, discerning the exact time could be difficult. There are loads of folks out and about, performing quiet, private, typically inexplicable duties in an unidentified pocket of suburbia. (The movie was largely shot in Smithtown, Long Island.)

One particular person data the sounds of crickets and trains on a cellphone. Another does push-ups in a closed auto physique store. Still one other tries to achieve a human being on an automatic cellphone system, however all the brokers are presently busy. The solely dialogue on this film comes from exterior sources, just like the cellphone system or televisions. The characters by no means communicate, and they’re by no means named. It might say one thing concerning the movie’s foreboding temper — it’s been described as Lynchian, and the opening shot seems to nod to “Blue Velvet” — that one of many figures who seems sleepiest is driving (and drifting over the yellow line).

Motion turns into a motif: As “Happer’s Comet” progresses, it turns into tough to maintain monitor of what number of of its topics have donned curler blades or skates. They glide via the realm nearly ritualistically (or somnambulistically).

The writer-director, Tyler Taormina (“Ham on Rye”), shot this extremely experimental characteristic throughout probably the most restrictive part of the pandemic, apparently with a crew of two.

Taormina has taken the issue of getting to take a look at the identical factor day-after-day and turned it into an aesthetic — looking at, and listening to, extraordinary sights to the purpose the place they change into eerie and unfamiliar. (The sound design on a cornfield makeout session will get in manner nearer than films usually do.) Sometimes wearying, typically pointlessly cryptic, “Happer’s Comet” however has a definite manner of viewing the world.

Happer’s Comet
Not rated. Running time: 1 hour 2 minutes. In theaters.