2023 TRIBECA FILM FESTIVAL REVIEW!
In Manhattan’s Upper West Side in the 1970’s and 1980’s existed a sex cult called the Sullivanians. The cult was run by Saul B. Newton, a mysterious but opinionated man; and the cult thrived–that is until its collapse in 1991. The Fourth Wall is a character-based documentary mini-series that focuses on Saul's son as he relives the world in which he was once a part–and he tells everyone that will listen about his experiences.
I’m just going to rip the bandaid right off. The Fourth Wall never gained my interest–and I struggled to remain focused throughout the duration of the first episode (the only episode to which I had access). From the opening moments the episode is full of archived footage from the days of the cult blended together with new testimonials from those who were a part of the cult in its heyday. This is the set up for the entirety of The Fourth Wall–and while that has the potential to be something to attract a lot of viewers, the fact of the matter is that this wasn’t for me. The episode was far too straightforward, never veering from this incredibly simplistic approach.
Simplicity certainly isn’t a bad thing–but when the subject matter won’t appeal to everyone, the documentary needs to shake things up a bit in order to appeal to a wider audience. The Fourth Wall never changes, and it becomes boring, redundant, and unappealing by the episode’s conclusion. I may be part of the minority that doesn’t find this topic interesting–and I’m alright with that. However, a little diversity in the way in which this story is told is desperately needed.
Regardless of how simple The Fourth Wall is, the reality is that it must have taken years of preparation in order to find the individuals to interview. I’m impressed by everything that went into the preproduction of the episode, and that’s where the appeal ends for me. Research and investigation is an integral part of this mini-series, and the lengths that Writer-Director Luke Meyer and Writer Keith Newton must have gone to is impressive enough to keep the film afloat.
The Fourth Wall, if the subject matter isn’t something that interests you, will be a challenging film. Even as a cinephile, the film does nothing to shake things up or to appeal to outliers or those on the cusp of the intended fanbase. The Fourth Wall is informative for sure, but it’s incredibly trying, and I was never able to become invested in the content as a result. The Fourth Wall is straightforward, incredibly linear, and massively challenging. The content isn’t interesting enough to stand on its own, and the testimonials seem to drag on and on.
Directed by Luke Meyer.
Written by Luke Meyer & Keith Newton.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/10
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