film: review

> EXPIRATION (2003)
An impressive first feature from a group of unknowns that I hope to see more from down the road!

By John C. Lyons
Film Critic

Starring: Janet Lane, Gavin Heffernan, Erin Simkin, Yetide Badaki, Denise Depass

Directed by: Gavin Heffernan

Written by: Gavin Heffernan

Genre: Drama

Our Rating: 8/10

The film’s jack-of-all-trades, Gavin Heffernan, may look like a twenty-something Frankie Muniz, but by the time the ending credits began to roll I was impressed with what this first time director pulled off in Expiration. Major kudos also have to go to the people Heffernan surrounded himself with for this production. It’s obvious he ended up with a solid and committed crew to help him get his vision on film. The cast is pretty damned good for a group of unknowns, with the stand-out in my opinion being Janet Lane (who previously played the bachelorette in Confessions of a Dangerous Mind). I have to admit I was a bit weary when the film began, but once Sam (Heffernan) and Rachel’s (Lane) paths met I was pulled in for the remainder.

Expiration opens with Niki (Simkin) delivering the news to Sam of her pregnancy and that he is the father. Sam tries to do what he believes is the best thing in the situation and plans a night on the town with Niki to propose to her. Rachel is a drug dealer who has an apparent life-or-death delivery lined-up for later that night. The film moves at a nice, easy-going pace up to this point, but as soon as Sam leaves Niki passed out drunk in their vehicle to go to a convenience store for her the film really takes off. Rachel is in the store too, as well as a loser named Oliver (Laen Herschler) who turns the night on its head by robbing the store and taking some very important items from our two leads. There is also an interesting story thrown into the mix involving a young girl, her hooker mom and her mom’s boyfriend, and penises. In the end destiny brings Sam and Rachel to a rooftop finale that will leave a lasting impression.

The film appears to have been shot on mini-DV and looks very impressive at that. The images on-screen are well lit, colorful, and a real treat for the eyes. Some nice work was done in planning and in post and it shows. Their $50,000 budget and 29 months on the project probably helped a bit too at this point. When I look back on the film there were only a couple scenes I felt that didn’t measure up and hurt the film. These were the scenes with the idiots playing HIV-roulette and when Sam drops by Oliver’s house. Spin the syringe was just too silly and gimmicky for me and I didn’t feel Sam’s character was quite ballsy enough to drop-in on Oliver’s parents. Cutting these scenes or re-imagining them would have put Expiration at damn close to perfection in my mind. Overall, a good flick and I hope that more people get the opportunity to see it.

(03-1126)

related links:
Expiration - official site

MPAA rating:
This film is not yet rated.

length: 102 minutes