The young magician (Jacob Latimore) turned his life upside down after the departure of his parents. The young man will take care of his sister after the departure of their parents. The young magician will engage in illegal activities related to the sale and use of drugs to take care of his sister. His sister will be kidnapped by his supplier who is giving him drug doses. At that moment, the young man will use his magic mind to rescue his abducted sister and use his sleight of hand to carry out his plans.
For a film at least partially about magic (and, "science-magic"), it lacks a decided bit of that necessary misdirection, and the proceedings are often predictable. Sleight is, well, slight.
[Latimore] has a magnetic screen presence mixed with a down-to-Earth directness. And while he's got swagger for days, he's just as compelling when his character is quietly contemplating his next move.
Dillard's feature debut squanders its high concept ... and serves up a low-rent, Nickelodeon-lite version of that story, blowing his chance with corny acting, paint-by-numbers plotting, and a dippy score.
A tight tale well-told, with an appealing hero, a direct route to satisfaction, and the ever-present sense that the merest turn toward stylistic extravagance or adventure frippery would sink it.
Director by J.D. Dillard brings this under-the-radar drama close to genre cliches but deftly avoids them with his strong characters, fine storytelling, and vivid atmosphere.