In the mood for a delicate tale of a man’s self-exploration in search of absolute love and happiness amongst the decay in a western urban CA city? Yes? Check out the Hallmark Channel then, because American Trash will suffocate you with anguish and despair.
Army veteran Milles (the brilliant Robert LaSardo, who also writes and directs American Trash) is a broken man who struggles with PTSD, constant flashbacks, and endless torment. His mind studies his surroundings with relentless scorn created by the inability of those trying to escape the hopelessness that clearly controls him. It’s immediately bleak and uncomfortable for Milles to find positive meaning in anything he does, including cleaning up garbage to preserve an old relic cave in the woods. Then, one day, he meets a pretty, hippy girl named Melissa, and his hope is restored as light enters his world.
Melissa (Lorelei Linklater) opens the lost soul of Milles through environmental activities, deep discussions of troubling war trauma, and listening to the spoken word of Charles Manson. The darkness slowly lifts between the two lovers and compassion guides them into an infinite bond. Just when the beauty of nature and innocence of affection calm the tumultuous Milles, his serenity is destroyed by a sudden tragic event, sending him into a ruthless spiral beyond the misery he has ever felt.
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LaSardo’s performance is genuine, authentic, and incredibly raw. Watching the joy deteriorate from his face, and seeing the inevitable behind his now empty stare, will chill your bones. LaSardo has mastered the craft of expressing so much emotion through very little action. The rage and vulnerability are perfected with a painful existence that eventually explodes in a very disturbing tactic to help heal his excruciating agony. Linklater’s wide-eyed Melissa complements the shattered war vet through pretenses of safety, care, and pure love. What may look like an odd couple, makes sense when the layers of each character are peeled away, exposing their flaws in mutual acceptance.
Everyone wants to save Milles. But it’s evident he does not want saving. LaSardo’s protective and unwavering conviction often takes him into the bowels of what society has become—dangerous, menacing, and repulsive. The existential awareness of all the filth that soaks up the bleak city life has a horrendous effect on the temperament of Milles. While Melissa was his light, the shadows return to claim his wounded psyche in a desperate move that leaves you emotionally drained. It’s a genius case study of PTSD complete with hallucinations, paranoia, and loneliness.
American Trash is an illustration of mental breakdown brought on by a lifetime of suffering. You can feel the demons rising in madness, with a shocking finale that will tear your heart out. It’s raw, powerful, and depressing. And you’ll want to watch every nerve-wracking moment.
Summary
‘American Trash’ is raw, powerful, and depressing. And you’ll want to watch every nerve-wracking moment.
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