‘Your Move’, Daniel Kerr’s latest short film, is a pulse-pounding chess drama with all the intensity of a thriller. Kerr stars as Mason, an undefeated U.S. chess champion whose cool confidence is dismantled piece by piece when he faces Joe, a cocky British crook played by Zachary Sutcliffe. The twist? Joe learned chess in prison, and he’s playing the psychological game just as fiercely as the one on the board.
This two-hander is gripping from the start, as we watch Mason, all swagger and skill, begin to unravel under Joe’s verbal jabs and manipulation. Sutcliffe’s performance as the slick, street-smart Joe is nothing short of electric – he’s a wolf circling his prey, and you can’t look away. Kerr, meanwhile, gives a fantastic turn as the initially unshakeable Mason who’s gradually torn down by someone who knows exactly how to strike where it hurts. Their back-and-forth is raw, tense, and feels lived-in, like they’ve been fighting this battle long before the match started.
The cinematography by Max McGregor is unexpectedly impressive for a low-budget film. That aerial shot of the tournament venue? Stellar. It sets the tone for a showdown that’s as much about who blinks first as it is about strategy. And the tension doesn’t let up.
‘Your Move’ thrives on psychological warfare, turning a simple chess game into a clash of wills. It’s character-driven drama at its finest, packed with sharp dialogue, a tense atmosphere, and top-tier performances from Kerr and Sutcliffe.
