Where I Watched it: Hulu

English Audio Description?: No

Cast: Ariela Barer, Kristine Froseth, Lucas Gage, Forest Goodluck, Sasha Lane, and Irene Bedard.

Director: Daniel Goldhaber

Once again, an interesting film makes its streaming debut on Hulu, and it lacks audio description. I was intrigued by this after hearing several people speak positively of this ecoterrorist indie, and I figured I’d check it out. Those of us who like to explore film actually like to watch things that don’t just have superheroes or giant freaking robots in them. Independent film is where a lot of great directors got their start. don’t believe me? Christopher Nolan, the director of the little seen Following, is the front runner this year for Best Director. you never know when a talent is in the world of indie cinema and about to blow up a pipeline. or… your screen at least.

This film does have a fair amount of dialogue, as they talk about planning what it is they want to do. Often people who are striving to be real life Planeteers don’t have real plans, so it takes a while to formulate them, as we get to know the ensemble, and we see there’s a real reason and concern as to why they need to do this. It actually feels advocated for, or justified.

But, the actual act, lacking audio description, like security teams coming by to see what’s up, drones flying in the air, explosions, all of that I didn’t have audio description for. Plus, as is true with basically all indie films, it’s required that at least either one character spend some time in relative silence contemplating life, or the director is required to take shots with the camera of… something. so we just sit in silence and wait. It happens all the time, and i never know what the hell is going on.

So, this is just me, once again writing another review from my perspective as a blind critic, asking, and pleading for accessibility. Audio description is your friend. Directors who work hard on crafting a film they believe means something don’t realize it all gets lost in translation when we don’t have audio description to fall back on as blind and low vision viewers.

since the package isn’t complete, the grade is what it is.

Final Grade: unwatchable