Plot Summary
Danny McSweeney never asked to co-pilot a plane full of eccentric characters so soon after his girlfriend broke up with him, especially when he has to co-pilot with a difficult female captain who seems to have no mercy for anyone, especially not for their high maintenance flight crew. The stakes are raised when an airline investigator joins the flight to watch their performance. Little do they know that besides carrying a Dutch prisoner, a man smuggling diamonds, a woman with her potbellied pig, a jilted ex-girlfriend, and a woman and her elderly mother, an airline spy has been assigned to audit the flight’s customer service. But when push comes to shove and it comes to life or death situations, the real heroes will be seen.
Production Quality (2 points)
Skid is truly an ambitious independent effort. Though production elements are a little shaky at first, likely due to low budgeting in the early stages. This includes some shaky camera work and odd camera angles, as well as a touch of low video quality and poor lighting. However, all of this improves as the movie goes on. Audio quality also improves throughout, and sports an interesting and creative soundtrack. Though the sets are mostly limited to one airplane, they are used effectively and give off a realistic feel. By the time the climax is reached, Skid feels like a full-fledged suspense film, despite its limited budget. This production team should be proud of what they were able to accomplish.
Plot and Storyline Quality (2 points)
Adapted from the genius of Rene Gutteridge, Skid brings a fresh genre perspective to Christian film. Though it tends to jump all over the place at first due to the myriad of characters, things settle down as the movie goes on. There are many characters, yet the plot is deeply dialogue-driven and creative. This story is an example of why we desperately want to see more Christian novels brought to the big screen, especially novels from authors who put great effort into developing characters like Gutteridge does. Plenty of genuine and somewhat eccentric comedy ensues in Skid and is captured effectively by the writers of this film. The longer you stick with it, the better it gets, until it culminates in an extremely well-executed ending sequence. Though the end is a little predictable, it’s still worth watching and brings fresh air to Christian film.
Acting Quality (2.5 points)
Though this cast is a little awkward at times, they really pull off a show-stopping performance to be so ‘little known’. Each cast member assumes their character flawlessly, thus reflecting on excellent casting, especially with so many people to cast. Like the rest of this film, the acting quality overall improves as the movie progresses, showing an ability to learn on the job. Overall, this is the film’s strongest suit.
Conclusion
Skid is exactly the way a first-time project should be: making the best of a limited budget and demonstrating true creativity. Using a book plot is always a great jump start to your career. This film is your textbook raw beginning that lives up to its fullest potential and demonstrates greater abilities for the future. We would love to see Tim and Vicki Brown and team do an action-adventure film in the future, although doing more Rene Gutteridge books is certainly a great idea too. No matter where they go next, we have high hopes for them and wish them well.
Final Rating: 6.5 out of 10 points
Box Office Revolution 