Tommy's Odyssey (2025)

-Written by Kyle Bain. 

After an accident, Tommy (Gabriel Bergeron) finds himself transported to a fantasy world in which sex is the driving force behind everyone and everything. Tommy’s Odyssey is, well…the odyssey on which Tommy embarks as he meets new people, attempts to navigate an unfamiliar world, and ultimately tries to find peace in a life that has weighed heavily on him for years. 

Tommy’s Odyssey is a film that suffers greatly from its lack of budget. Writer-Director Zach Radford has a clear premise in mind, and it feels that he has a firm grasp on the direction that he would like his film to head. However, given what can likely only be described as a microbudget seemed to stare Radford in the face throughout production; it becomes increasingly more difficult for viewers to suspend disbelief—and with that comes a slew of other challenges as well. 

The world building is an aspect of the film that was essential to its success—something that needed to be fully fleshed out in order for viewers to buy into Tommy’s Odyssey. The unfortunate reality is that, with filming locations being a product of opportunity, there’s a disconnect between the set design and the viewer. Overly simplistic designs hinder the film’s ability to become accessible, and, again, my ability to suspend disbelief was equally hindered. I needed more from this piece of the cinematic puzzle, but the production constraints got in the way. 

Tommy’s Odyssey is challenging to follow—as the background noise often drowns out the dialogue, making it nearly impossible to hear what’s taking place. In a fever dream of a film, it’s imperative that viewers are able to follow along to some degree, but the ineffective sound repeatedly pulls viewers out of the film. Tommy’s Odyssey already struggles to reach viewers, and the underwhelming audio only exacerbates this. 

While the film struggles in a variety of ways, Tommy’s Odyssey is steeped in psychological and cultural depth that, regardless of its shortcomings, has the potential to resonate with viewers. Again, Radford clearly knew what he wanted to accomplish with Tommy’s Odyssey (it’s simply the financial restraints that played antagonist to this product). With that, there’s an emotional core that’s ever-present, and Radford refuses to squander the opportunity to develop this aspect of his short film. Tommy is repeatedly met with emotional speedbumps that hinder his ability to thrive, and the character possesses the ability to reach viewers and develop a genuine connection with them. 

I’ve said it a few times, but it’s worth mentioning again: Tommy’s Odyssey, the brainchild of Radford, is fully understood within the mind of its creator. Radford knows the deeper implications present in his film, but he doesn’t have the resources necessary to drive his concept home. There’s so much potential in Tommy’s Odyssey, but I’m afraid that very little of what Radford imagined actually comes to fruition. 

Written & Directed by Zach Radford. 

Starring Gabriel Bergeron, Michelin Chartier, William Whitty, Zach Radford, Esther Brzeziniski, etc. 

4.5/ = WORTH WATCHING, BUT YOU’VE BEEN WARNED