At the beginning of Something Is Killing Tate, it seems as if Tate Bradley’s life is going quite well. This is because eir birthday is coming up, while it is only a matter of time before ey gets married. However, viewers learn that Tate is suicidal, even going as far as to attempt the ultimate solution by the time the movie kicks in. Not wanting to have it happen again, Tate attempts to dig through eir life and see what exactly is wrong with eir life. To do so, ey locks eirself into eir apartment and only lets friends and family visit eir during this soul-seeking period.
As each major piece of Tate’s life comes into focus, one begins to realize that eir attempted suicide is not only due to one specific factor, but rather through a culmination of everything that Tate would experience on a daily basis. While this is not a real story, the lessons taught here work in real life. Suicidal thoughts are not those that come overnight, and they can further be bolstered by friends and family that may only have the best of motivations in their hearts. I would have to point individuals to this film if they want a good a story line, but also if they would like to showcase this nuanced viewpoint of the causes of suicidal behavior.
Each actor and actress is capable enough to show both positive and negative family interactions, but it is really Jocko Sims’ performance here that makes this into a realistic and understandable narrative. In much the same way, director Leon Lozano is able to pull enough from the real world to make this movie one of a few that can deftly traipse the line between reality and melodrama. More so, Lozano is able to do in 80 minutes what directors spend their entire careers on – crafting a set of characters that could be your friends, family, or acquaintances.
Rating: 7.4/10
Something Is Killing Tate (DVD) / 2009 Vanguard / 80 Minutes / http://www.vanguardcinema.com