A VISION IN SEE FOR ME @TRIBECA 2021

See For Me is more than a home invasion film premiering at Tribeca Film Festival. The sub-genre has really picked up steam in the past year. Films like Hush, You’re Next and most recently Lucky have really expanded this universe. Director Randall Okita‘s See For Me put his own spin towards this sub-genre with a twist that makes this film have much horsepower. The premise of the film will remind you of the critically acclaimed Don’t Breathe. The reversal of gender roles will ignite the audience’s curiosity in this intense roller-coaster thriller.

Skyler Davenport plays Sophie who is blind and a former professional skier. She was once on her way to becoming an Olympic skier. But her dreams were taken away by a degenerative disease. It took her vision away leaving her with a brash and bratty outlook on life. Natalie Brown plays her mother who suggests she uses an app, “See For Me” where she receives help from a live person. Sophie is hesitant and stubborn to try the app because she believes that she does not need any sort of help.

She finally connects on the app with Kelly, played by Jessica Parker Kennedy. She is an army veteran and a first-person shooter aficionado. Sophie needs her help after locking herself out of a millionaire home in the middle of nowhere where she is cat-sitting. Sophie then lets her guard down and finds a new friend in Kelly who helps her to get back in. But when it gets dark outside, Sophie needs to get back out.

This happens when three sophisticated thieves break into the house to break into a safe. Sophie then calls Kelly for help to get her out of the pickle that she is in. Kelly helps Sophie maneuver around the house and gives her the lowdown of what the intruders are after. When they realize that there is someone else in the house, the intensity rises. Kelly commands Sophie in a first-person shooter type of way to get away from the thieves. This in itself would inspire many gamers who go see the film. But will this game already be over because of Sophie’s attitude?

This makes for a unique cat and mouse chase never seen before on screen. A blind woman in a large house invaded by three sophisticated thieves makes Sophie in a more vulnerable position. Furthermore, the thieves are advised over the phone by their boss Rico, played by Kim Coates. The odds stack truly against Sophie who must swallow her pride and get the help she truly needs. It is a life or death situation where the audience feels empathy for Sophie despite her rude characteristics.

This is an avant-garde film centring on Skyler Davenport being visually blind in real life. In addition, director Randall Okita is drawn to stories of the “underdog” or marginalized groups which fit Tribeca’s vision. Skyler is non-binary meaning they will bring their real-life experiences onto the screen. They too like their role of Sophie has had their dreams crushed after losing their vision. This film is a great opportunity to show their stance in society. It is a reflection of the will to fight back when push comes to shove but what better festival to do that than Tribeca?

What’s most impressive about this film which the audience will not catch is the lighting. Many of these home invasion films or horror movies, in general, have poor lighting. But Randall Okita gives light to the dark sequences of the film. This gives the audience a feel for a blind person like Sophie. This lighting is so precise that it does not steer away from the narrative. The audience does not get confused or blurred out which is key to this film rising above the level that it does.

Even with the help of the first-person shooter technology, Okita gives light to every situation that Sophie is in. Because of this, Skyler’s truthful acting and emotions are caught. This shows the depth of her existence which makes this film See For Me visionary filmmaking at its best. Just see for yourself at Tribeca this year.