Gritty and stylish, “Rolling” is a scrappy dark comedy that wears its low-budget charm on its sleeve. While the amateur acting sticks out like a sore thumb, it never gets in the way of the story’s momentum or emotional pull. In fact, it adds to the film’s offbeat authenticity because these aren’t slick, rehearsed characters. They’re messy, impulsive, and totally relatable.
The plot kicks off with a confrontation gone horrifically wrong between Alice (Cora Cleary), Viv (Vaune Suitt) and their landlord, setting the stage for a tense and twisted scramble for survival. What unfolds is a fast-paced, morally murky, and at times darkly hilarious ride as our protagonists try to clean up a disaster they never intended to create.
What the film does best is capture that “what the hell do we do now?” energy of being young, broke, and in way, way over your head. The two leads, while clearly inexperienced performers, are deeply likable. Their chemistry feels real, and their decision-making (rushed, irrational, and fueled by fear) is grounded in the kind of bad judgment everyday people make under pressure. You root for them even as they spiral, which is critical with a story like this.
Stylistically, the film is bursting with confidence. Co-writers and co-directors Robert DeBoucher and Ethan Spotts show real vision, making inventive use of the limited budget with bold visual choices, sharp editing, and an excellent sense of pacing. They write women characters quite well, too. As is to be expected with independent cinema, there are more than a few stumbles. One extended drug trip sequence in particular overstays its welcome and feels like filler more than a meaningful addition to the story. But hey, at least it looks cool!
Despite the occasional misstep, the film is packed with personality. The original score is a standout with its moody and quirky sound that’s completely in sync with the film’s tone. It elevates scenes and reinforces the stylish, slightly surreal vibe running throughout the movie. Despite clunky performances, I remained engaged with the characters and their eventual fate. The visuals are striking and the story takes a basic premise and flips it on its head.
At its heart, “Rolling” is about regular people making bad choices for reasons we all understand: desperation, fear, the hope that maybe they can still come out on top. It’s funny, tense, and oddly endearing, a messy little gem that could signal big things in the future for its creative team.
By: Louisa Moore
Screen Zealots 