Indigo (2026)

-Written by Zach Troxel.

In Indigo, we see a distraught person go through the process of dealing with loss, self-discovery, and even love for one’s self and others, through heavy emotions that include grief and anxiety.

Indigo is a strong and powerful short film that knows exactly the story it wants to portray. Without employing any elements of melodrama, the movie capitalizes on its emotions using sincerity. There is a strong confidence from the direction about where the movie is going from the very beginning, and it is all because of the directors Zachary Merian and Josh Vanbatenburg. Every scene works toward the story and helps the audience connect with the characters. This short film manages to deal with some tough topics without being manipulative in any way, thus becoming one of the better dramatic short films of the year.

There are many good things about the movie Indigo, but the most notable of all is its screenplay. The movie finds the right way of balancing grief, fear, love, and healing by authoring various themes underneath the surface. At first look, it seems like a simple drama movie, but later when it unravels, it becomes clear that there is so much more than what the audience initially perceives. The film is actually a very smart take on the idea of having to learn how to love oneself before loving somebody else. These factors do not take away from the plot of the movie but only add to it.

The performances elevate this film to levels that may be unexpected. Merian delivers a very solid and sincere performance that holds the film together from start to finish. Emily Joy Lemus provides a wonderful counterpart whose chemistry allows the more emotional moments to truly spark and connect with the audience. Supporting performances from Justin Eseller, Alia Bland, Jacob Martinez, Lea Martinez, Trevor Schlosser, and Tristan J. Watson all contribute naturally to the emotional authenticity of the film. Every performance in this film feels genuine, which ultimately allows all of the strong themes to land without ever feeling forced. 

Technically, the production is just as strong. The cinematography captures the intimate moments through smooth transitions and great lighting that reinforces the tone of the film. The editing flows effortlessly from scene to scene, keeping excellent pacing throughout, while never staying longer in a scene than necessary. The slower moments are still engaging because of how the film moves smoothly between its emotional beats.

Out of all of the strengths that the film has, perhaps its most impressive achievement is its sound. The sound design remains polished throughout, while the original score by Jake Prime and Alex Norbert becomes one of the defining elements of the picture, the original song becomes emotionally essential to the film. It amplifies several pivotal scenes without overpowering them. Combined with above average sound mixing, every emotional moment feels carefully crafted and remarkably immersive. 

Very few shortcomings prevent Indigo from reaching absolute perfection. Occasionally the film leans into some dramatic conventions. Some of the cliches used within sequences can be aggravating to the viewer and take them out of the story. There are moments where the audience will be able to say that they have seen this before. These moments are minor and never derail the experience, but they do slightly lessen the originality of the film. 

Ultimately, Indigo is a well-crafted piece of cinema that works because it puts its characters front and center. Great acting, strong direction, excellent sound work, and underlying themes all contribute to make it a film that will stay with viewers. Some stories are worth telling because they can reach people that need it most, and this is an example of that. This is independent filmmaking at the highest level. 

Directed by Zachary Merian & Josh Vanbatenburg

Written by Zachary Merian

Starring Zachary Merian, Emily Joy Lemus, Justin Eseller, ‘Alif Bland, Jacob Martinez, Lea Martinez, Trevor Schlosser, & Tristan J. Watson.

9/10 = DROP EVERYTHING AND WATCH IT NOW