It takes a while to figure out what GO/DON’T GO is about. The movie, written and directed by first time filmmaker Alex Knapp, is part love story, part apocalypse story, part horror story, and doesn’t let unnecessary words get in the way of telling the story.
The dialogue is as sparse as the characters in the movie. It starts out as an awkward date between Adam and K, played by Olivia Luccardi. Adam doesn’t say much. Neither does K. But they do have some chemistry.
But before the opening credits, Adam backs away from the date and embarks on a journey of loneliness and despair.
The love story turns quickly into an apocalyptic journey. Adam spends his day lost in his own mind. Is it of his own design or are there real reasons he is alone? He is obsessed with making it to the mountain. Maybe from there he can see his options better, maybe he can find a connection with others. It is a futile journey and maybe not what he should be focused on.
But it doesn’t stop Adam from trying to find a way to the mountain top. The movie turns into a horror story, filled with traps and danger. Adam creates his own horrors trying to find his way in a lonely world.
GO/DON’T GO is a perfect love story for a pandemic. It is also an unconventional love story. Love stories have happy endings, usually the happily ever after variety. But love can be lonely and painful too. Love can make some feel alone and helpless. Love in a pandemic has elements of loneliness and isolation too. Adam feels all those things looking for love with K.
But Adam’s idea of K is much different than the real K. That makes the movie unconventional. Adam falls in love with an idea and that puts him in a fantasy world that is far from fantastic.
Adam has a hard time finding love. But in the end he finds Hope, and sometimes that is more powerful than love.
“Ultimately our film is a love story, be it wrapped up in the uncertainty of a world changing event for our main character,” writer/director Alex Knapp said. “My producing partner Max Gardner and I couldn’t have possibly dreamed to execute a project like this without our incredible cast, crew, and producing team, and we’re thrilled to be able to share it with audiences.”
GO/DON’T GO ON is available on demand and in digital on iTunes, Amazon, Google Play, XBox, Vudu, DirecTV and Dish Network on Jan. 12.
