Written and directed by Arlin Godwin, ‘Violent True Believer’ is a short thriller film that tells the story of a dismissed chemistry teacher who finds herself affiliated with a neo-Nazi/white supremacist group. The film stars J.C. Hoffman, in the leading role, and the voice artistry of Dee Angeles and Alice Bradley. The narrative, which comes off the back of the January 6 US Capitol attack, delves into themes off isolation, conspiracy, guilt and female empowerment. The short is entirely set in Washington D.C. A riveting watch with a hair-raising conclusion.
The 18-minute thriller opens with an introduction to the right-wing Jane Smith, who finds herself unemployed after threatening to set fire to her students. With financial woos looming over her, she finds political and financial refuge online from White Storm – a seemingly extreme conservative group. The narrative takes a dramatic shift, testing her ideology and compassion, when she is tasked with constructing a bomb to detonate at an elementary school. Viewers can expect high drama from the offset, with a startling Hollywood-style twist. A gripping ride of suspense.
Arlin Godwin has created a spectacular thriller that doesn’t shy away from unravelling the extremist mindset. Narratively, the film is perfectly constructed with protagonist vulnerability, antagonism, a catalytic turning point and concluding with a climatic character crisis. J.C. Hoffman’s portrayal is deserving of high acclaim – a courageous role to explore for the times we live in. Visually, cinematography is of industry standard quality – wrapped up with stellar audio and post-production. A nod to the visual effects team – a terrific achievement that will reward viewers with a jaw-dropping finish. Highly recommended.
