Writer/Actor/Director Alex Karpovsky's "Rubberneck" tells the story of Paul (Karpovsky himself), an awkward guy that works in a laboratory on the outskirts of Boston. During a holiday weekend, he has an affair with a co-worker Danielle (Jaime Ray Newman) that comes to dominate his existence for the months that follow.
The film initially gives off the vibes of a suspense thriller but is ultimately an intense character study. From the get-go we get the impression that Paul is a bit of a loner. He has no friends and he spends his time hanging out his sister and his nephew. The only thing that preoccupies him is Danielle. He glances constantly at her during work and does his best to get closer to her. When a new co-worker starts getting all of her attention, he starts to make questionable decisions in order to win her back. At this point, the screenplay whirls out of control to the detriment of the film. Paul goes from being a relatable guy who wants to win back the girl and turns into an anti-hero whose actions and reasons are hard to identify with. We understand that Danielle is the only girl he has ever had a bond with, but it was only one weekend. Paul essentially turns into a stalker and estranges himself from the viewer. The damage he is causing is clearly haunting him, but he has alienated himself so much that it is hard to feel for him. At one point he threatens to run in the middle of a highway at night and get hit by a car; I personally hoped he would do it just to end the story there. The script eventually reaches the climax we have been expecting, but extends the film for an additional 20 minutes. In an attempt to help the viewer comprehend and accept Paul's actions, Karpovsky and co-writer Garth Donavan impose a cliché twist with a childhood trauma that feels forced rather than being an organic part of the story.
Stylistically, Karpovsky does a solid job of overcoming the script's weaknesses. Throughout its duration, the film maintains a rather steady tempo with extended scenes that slowly become frantic and quicker in pace as the film progresses and the central character of Paul grows more and more neurotic. Karpovsky introduces a haunting image of feet descending stairs at one point and the image reoccurs until it is eventually revealed; that constant reference creates a nervous energy that echoes in the viewers mind again and again. This image is related to the final twist and ultimately does not payoff. Worthy of note is a reference to Alfred Hitchcock's "Psycho" that could please some while annoying others; I personally thought it was a nice touch.
Karpovsky maintains a mild temperament throughout the film as Paul. His quiet and collected attitude adds a layer of mystery that forces the viewer to attempt to enter into his mind and attempt to decipher his thoughts. The remainder of the cast gives strong performances that complement Karpovsky's Paul.
Ultimately, "Rubberneck" is an intriguing character study molded into a suspense thriller that sustains the audience's attention for its duration. Unfortunately, the film threatens to alienate its audience as it wears on without ever truly winning it back. A late attempt to redeem Paul makes the film feel formulaic and cliché despite its best intentions.
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