By P. M. Raymond

Can we find common ground with someone fundamentally different from ourselves? Does a near dystopian future complicate this? Director David Flores sets out to answer these questions and raise a few more with his short film, Pit Stop, currently making the festival rounds.

The tagline of the film—A prisoner and guard are stranded and out of gas, but they’re not alone—is executed with tension and surprises by Flores. The film opens with distracted Hannah, a guard transporting a prisoner. The car used for transport has run out of gas in a remote area. This could be an unsafe situation for Hannah. As she waits for reinforcement, she maintains control through a detached demeanor. Hannah trades disdainful glares and acidic barbs with the prisoner. Unfortunately, Hannah concentrates so much on being a superior force in the exchange that she is unaware that the prisoner is harboring a secret.

The prisoner, Quinn, has discovered a means to escape.

The circumstances that led to Quinn’s incarceration are not revealed. It is implied she is part of a resistance movement that operates on the fringe of society while Hannah is part of a militarized group of enforcers. Their discourse becomes more heated. But, as night falls and their options for help dwindle, two opportunities to break down their ideological barriers present themselves.

One is an act of humanity. The other is an act of survival.

Mary Rose Branick and Emily Sweet in Pit Stop (2024)

Pit Stop uses the remote location and the two protagonists as an extended metaphor. The story not only drives home the chasm in society but also how a shared experience can be a catalyst to demonstrate that, despite polarizing ideologies, there is decency at the core of each character.

This is a horror film, so the scare comes at the end, however, the conflict between the women feels like the main horror that the viewer is meant to engage with.

The actors Emily Sweet and Mary Rose Branick (a frequent Flores collaborator), own the screen and keep the tension and pace consistent. They made this minimalist environment work. Sweet is no stranger to the horror genre with acting credits, including Eight Eyes, V/H/S 99, Castle Freak, and the audio drama Shell. Branick is an LA/NY-based actor/writer/director who brings her
award-winning talent to the project. She previously won Best Actor for her role in Likeness, another Flores-directed film.

Flores is also operating on all cylinders. He utilized the car’s cramped space to great effect, allowing the actors to fill in the rest. Flores is an up-and-coming writer and director with a track record of unique storytelling and this project is a solid addition to his filmography.

Overall, Pit Stop has something to say about a potentially bleak future, but with hope that people can find common ground.

ABOUT PIT STOP
Pit Stop IMDB
Director: David Flores 
David’s Instagram  
David’s X/Twitter  
David’s IMDB
Cast: Mary Rose Branick as Hannah, Emily Sweet as Quinn
Producer: Kyle Little, Director of Photography: Ellie Ann Fenton, Editor: Andrew Nolan, Costume Designer: Marissa Aldana
Executive Producers: David Flores, Annie Avlon, Kristen Tritt, Joshua Carlin, Emily Sweet, Mary Rose Branick
Music: Ian Anderson / Pagan Terms