G.S.W. (2025)

-Written by Kyle Bain.

When a paramedic realizes that the gunshot wound victim that she’s taking care of is a suspect in the school shooting that has just taken place at her son’s school, she is forced to make an impossible decision. G.S.W. is a quick look at ethics and what it means to be a good person. 

Confined almost entirely to the back half of an ambulance, G.S.W. forces viewers into the film and provides them a first-hand account of the atrocities that take place far too often in this world. Writer-Director Jonny Durgan is unapologetic in his presentation of the hard-to-swallow scene that plays out before viewers. Blood and gore are at the forefront of this short film, but it exists invisibly in the background as well, with the worst iniquities being mentioned throughout as well. There’s no escaping the hardships that have befallen paramedic Beth (Genevieve O’Reilly), and the in-your-face style of G.S.W. is the primary reason for that. 

G.S.W. enters in medias res, right into the action of the film. Viewers have no time to become acclimated to what is happening in front of Beth and her colleague. With G.S.W. being only six-minutes long, it’s essential that Durgan wastes as little time as possible, diving right into the story. He does just this, and antagonizes his viewers from the start in the best way. 

Sometimes I let my emotions dictate how I feel about a film. I haven’t quite decided whether or not that’s a good thing yet. Though, in the case of G.S.W., I feel that the emotional relevance, as well as the ethical implications of the film are enough to drive it forward, to entice viewers, and encourage a visceral response. As technically brilliant as G.S.W. is, what appealed to me the most was the emotion, the fact that it was able to grab ahold of me and refused to let go. The strong emotional performance of O’Reilly drives this sentiment, and was the glue that holds this astounding short film together. 

A short film does not mean it’s not powerful, as G.S.W. hits all the right emotional notes, is exceptional in its technical stability, and effectively discusses a modern controversy without being divisive. G.S.W. is a strong outing for Durgan and his team. 

Written & Directed by Jonny Durgan. 

Starring Genevieve O’Reilly, Kya Brame, Duncan Meadows, etc. 

8.5/10 = WORTH RENTING OR BUYING