"Transient" (2024)

by Joseph Perry and Mike Imboden

In our “The Good, the Bad, and the Verdict” film reviews, Joseph and Mike give their thoughts on a slice of cinema. For this installment, it’s writer/director Chris Ruppert’s sci-fi thriller, Transient.

Synopsis

After a traumatic accident, a tech entrepreneur's (Greg Poppa as David Blakely) new invention forces him to wrestle with the ghosts of his past.

The Good

Joseph: Ruppert’s Transient boasts terrific performances throughout, from Poppa’s lead role as single-minded programmer/computer developer Blakely, driven by grief to attempt to connect with his deceased daughter, to Eric Francis Melaragni as his business partner Bill Gillis to Sugey Cruz as Blakely’s ex-wife Claire, and the list goes on with the fine supporting players. Ruppert nails the drama and the emotional stakes, crafting a mad scientist story for modern times.

Mike: Transient centers on a tech entrepreneur who creates a means of reliving memories following a catastrophic accident. His creation drives him to face his history and sets him on a road of self-discovery.

The film's strength resides in its examination of memory, love, and loss while nonetheless keeping a tense atmosphere. The acting is excellent; the characters have depth thanks to very strong performances. The deft integration of the visual effects improves the story without overwhelming it. Well controlled pacing keeps viewers interested from start to finish.

The Bad

Joseph: Although Poppa gives a winning performance as Blakely, I found the character difficult to root for, as he came off as obsessed to the point of being rather unlikeable. My second reason for “The Bad” is admittedly a personal one that will vary by viewer, but Transient lost me a little during its initial technical jargon set-up. I’m a simple guy when it comes to science fiction — give me 1950s sci-fi cinema extraterrestrials, monsters, and 1950s pseudoscience any day — so I didn’t invest in following exactly how Blakely and Gillis developed their tech as much as why. Viewers with a strong interest in technology will of course be much more interested.

Mike: Transient’s strength lies in its intriguing premise: a tech entrepreneur develops a device to relive memories, blurring the lines between past and present. However, the execution feels uneven. While the performances are generally solid, the narrative pacing drags, leaving certain plot points underdeveloped.

It also struggles to balance its thematic ambitions. The exploration of grief feels surface-level, lacking the emotional depth needed to resonate fully. The sci-fi elements, while promising, are overshadowed by the film's slow pace and underdeveloped narrative threads.

The Verdict

Joseph: Relying heavily on mood, characterization, and emotional drama, Transient is a slow-burn sci-fi drama that ramps up thriller aspects later in its running time. The technical aspects are all impressive, including cinematography from Aj Nutter that sets the dread-filled tone well. Aficionados of thought-provoking science fiction will want to seek out Ruppert’s feature.

Mike: Ruppert's screenplay and directing craft a gripping story that explores the emotional toll of loss and the appeal of going back over special events. The film's strength is in its ability to keep audiences interested and involved in the travels of the protagonists by juggling creative ideas with realistic human experiences. Transient deftly examines the human predicament in view of technological development and offers evidence of the potency of independent filmmaking and shows how skillful narrative may overcome financial constraints.