'Lawmaker Dissent' - Director Von Krome’s First-Rate Sci-Fi Idea Is Undone by Painful Performances but Elevated by Samual F Dusumian’s Exceptional Cinematography

Review:

'Lawmaker Dissent'  A First-Rate Sci-Fi Idea Undone by Painful Performances

Director Von Krome steps into science fiction with an intriguing 51-minute drama about an alien Lawmaker sent to judge humanity. Still, cinematographer Samual F Dusumian’s work cannot rescue a film undermined by weak performances.

“Lawmaker Dissent,” the 51-minute science-fiction drama from director and producer Von Krome, begins with a first-rate idea: A suspected terrorist claims to be an alien Lawmaker who has arrived on Earth to pass judgment on the human race.

The premise is terrific on paper. A government savant and a Chinese prodigy join forces to determine whether the claim is legitimate and, if it is, what must be done to mitigate the threat. Krome uses the setup to examine the deteriorating state of the human race, poking at how people see themselves and one another.

The concept is interesting and timely. The execution is not.

Samual F Dusumian Gives “Lawmaker Dissent” Its Strongest Element

The best reason to watch “Lawmaker Dissent” is the cinematography by Samual F Dusumian, whose visual work gives the film a sense of atmosphere that the performances rarely sustain.

The costumes, however, are deeply disappointing and largely unoriginal. One exception is the pop of orange worn by the alien being interrogated, a solid visual choice that immediately draws the eye. I found myself wondering whether that choice came from Dusumian.

A Promising Screenplay Buried Beneath the Acting

The acting in “Lawmaker Dissent” is agonizingly bad.

At first, I wondered whether the stiff delivery might be an artistic choice by Krome. On closer inspection, I suspect that is not the case. The performances are so distracting that they obscure what appears, in places, to be promising writing.

There are sporadic bursts of dialogue and ideas that should appeal to science-fiction viewers, particularly when the film leans into questions of judgment, humanity, and whether the species deserves saving. But the performances repeatedly prevent those ideas from landing with the force they deserve.

The cast includes Amariah Dionne as Judge, Heather Frederick as Nanya, Yixuan “Kat” Shi as Li Lin, Millie Gillana as Bella, Bernie Durfee as Borgin, Jo O’Donnell as Aborgassi, Mitch Kesler as Sandborg, Ryan Palmer as Sich, and Chad Reid as Guard.

At one point, the alien in orange warns, “Don’t forget who I am.”

Don’t worry. I won’t forget that terrible performance — ever.

Krome deserves credit for stepping into science fiction with an ambitious premise and a willingness to engage questions about humanity and judgment. But “Lawmaker Dissent” never rises to the level of its idea. In the end, Dusumian’s cinematography is the film’s strongest achievement and its most compelling reason to watch.

Director: Von Krome
Producer: Von Krome
Cinematographer: Samual F Dusumian
Cast: Amariah Dionne, Heather Frederick, Yixuan “Kat” Shi, Millie Gillana, Bernie Durfee, Jo O’Donnell, Mitch Kesler, Ryan Palmer and Chad Reid

Festival Recognition

According to research, “Lawmaker Dissent” has received 12 awards and festival honors, along with additional official selections and nominations. Its festival record includes:

• Best Feature Film — Winner, Rome International Movie Awards (Italy)

• Best Editing — Winner, Rome International Movie Awards (Italy)

• Best Science Fiction Film — Winner, Filmzen International Film Competition (USA)

• Best Science Fiction Film — Winner, Reale Film Festival (Italy)

• Best Feature Film — Winner, Krimson Horyzon International Film Festival (India)

• Best USA Long Feature Film — Winner, Hollywood International Golden Age Festival (USA)

• Best Short Feature Film — Winner, CINEMAFEST (USA)

• Best Science Fiction Feature Film — Winner, Hong Kong Indie Film Festival (Hong Kong)

• Best Experimental Film — Award of Recognition, The IndieFEST Film Awards (USA)

• Best Director — Finalist, London Director Awards (England)

• Best Science Fiction Film — Semi-Finalist, Athens Indie Film Festival (Greece)

• Best Feature Film — Quarter-Finalist, Manhattanhenge Film Festival (USA)

• Best Low Budget Independent Feature Film — Official Selection, Los Angeles Film and Documentary Awards (USA)

• Best Experimental Film — Nominee, AltFF Alternative Film Festival (Canada)

• Best Science Fiction Film — Nominee, LA Sun Film Fest (USA)

• Best Science Fiction Film — Nominee, New York Independent Cinema Awards (USA)

https://www.lawmakerdissent.com/

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“Director Von Krome’s smartest choice may have been putting cinematographer Samual F Dusumian behind the camera.”

— Lapacazo Sandoval

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