Shakey Grounds (2025)

-Written by Kyle Bain. 

When a struggling musician, Travis Dent (Eric Nelsen), encounters a disgraced talent agent, he must come to terms with his traumatic past, build on his talent, and overcome the Shakey Grounds that have plagued his career and personal life for years. 

There’s something innately human about Shakey Grounds, something that doesn’t often appear in the struggling-musician subgenre. Something about this film resonated with me, and that ultimately comes down to the series of relationships that Travis forms throughout Shakey Grounds. Whether it’s his sister, niece, other band members, etc., Nelsen has the ability to bring out both the best and the worst in his character, creating both bonds and juxtapositions with nearly every character in the film. While Shakey Grounds works as an ensemble, it’s Travis that ultimately remains in the spotlight throughout, and Nelsen’s ability to present emotion strengthens the film every step of the way. 

The film’s soundtrack is legitimately good. It’s energetic, fun, and powerful–a bold combination that emanates from the screen and consumes viewers. Again, films of this nature sometimes produce music that is ironically good, or fails to match the overall tone of the film–but Shakey Grounds presents viewers with a soundtrack that is immersive and tantalizing. I found myself tapping my feet, humming the tunes hours after the film had concluded. The music works as a reminder of the validity of the film, but it also works as a guide throughout the film. It mirrors the shifting tones, it provides energy, and it allows viewers more of an opportunity to connect with the film and its story. 

I was particularly fond of the set designs when it came to showcasing the band’s performances. Shakey Grounds does a spectacular job of creating a series of juxtapositions that accurately reflect the current tone of the film. From exuberance to melancholy, Shakey Ground continues to present the tonal shifts by way of the set design. Even in the darkest moments, the film is charming in this regard. This is just another example of how the film manages to bridge any gap between the characters, their emotions, and the viewer. 

My one issue with this film is that it sometimes feels dry. While much of the film does an effective job of developing emotion and presenting it to viewers, there are down moments that make their way into the narrative and cause certain moments to feel disjointed or inaccessible. In those more dull moments Shakey Grounds fails to exude the raw emotion that often fills the screen throughout the majority of the film. The film could have ultimately been a bit shorter, as I believe that eliminating those moments could have strengthened emotional relevance in other moments. 

Shakey Grounds is a music-centered story that uses that artform to create emotion and deliver a human experience. The film continues to build on itself in a way that effectively develops a relevant and accessible story from start to finish. With Nelsen in the spotlight throughout, the film is vibrant, and Shakey Grounds is a successful venture into the world of music and emotion. 

Directed by Michael Garcia. 

Written by Trace Slobotkin. 

Starring Eric Nelsen, Ella Cannon, Mackenzie Ziegler, Moses Jones, Kelly Thiebaud, etc. 

8/10 = WORTH RENTING OR BUYING