A young woman longs to make her mark in her local underground music scene in Ori Segov and Noah Dixon’s Poser. I was especially excited to see the film, as it was shot and set in my hometown of Columbus, Ohio. Recent years have seen more movies get made here (2016’s I Am Wrath and 2017’s Aftermath), but it’s still rare enough to be a treat. While the city is never explicitly mentioned in the narrative, anyone who has spent any amount of time here will surely recognize some of the backdrops.
Sylvie Mix is our lead, the quiet but ambitious Lennon Gates. Fascinated by the colorful characters that put on secret shows in abandoned warehouses and struggle to bring their art to the world, she dreams of being accepted as one of them. Lennon soon starts a podcast and begins to interview some of her favorite musicians. The main plot begins in earnest when she starts to hang out with her hero, Bobbi Kitten, of the duo Damn the Witch Siren (Kitten and bandmate Z Wolf play versions of themselves and contribute songs to the soundtrack). After playing a song for Bobbi and some other members of the scene, Lennon’s star is on the rise, as they encourage her to pursue becoming a singer-songwriter. However, it soon becomes apparent that Lennon’s persona is not quite as pure as it seems.
Dixon wrote the screenplay and it is subtle and clever stuff. Hints at where the story is going are laced throughout the dreamy proceedings, but he doesn’t tip his hand until the film’s climactic moments. Named chapter breaks are utilized that lend both some style and momentum. In a sense, this is the cinematic equivalent of a page-turner. Character work is very well done with both Lennon and Bobbi getting solidly fleshed out. Though some of the conversations are arty and florid, the dialog is nevertheless naturalistic and believable. There’s a streak of understated comedy that shows up here and there to keep us on our toes, too.
Logan Floyd’s lensing is slick and engaging. Shot selection is varied and compositions are purposeful. It’s beautiful work with atmospheric visuals played against practical storytelling moments. My favorite sequences involve the dark and hazy performances at the old meatpacking plant and the shots of the downtown skyline at night. I also appreciate how Z Wolf is portrayed, as he initially appears somewhat menacing because of his mask, but tiny instances of absurdity are snuck in that humorously undercut our expectations.
The editing by Dixon and Segev is impressive. They understand that rhythm is not just for music. Poser is cut together artfully so that while the pacing is languorous on a surface level, we can still feel a slight undercurrent pulling us along until the plot threads are yanked tight at just the right time. The filmmakers maximize the impact of Floyd’s visuals with interesting juxtapositions and precise cuts.
Of course, music plays a huge part in Poser. Adam Robl and Shawn Sutta’s score features a few contributions from Z Wolf and Abby Young. The composers perfectly compliment the imagery with a graceful suite that illuminates Lennon’s longing and veiled inner life. The soundtrack is a bit more raucous, with tracks by Damn the Witch Siren, WYD, Son of Dribble, Joey Aich, Rat Motel, the Roof Dogs, Devin Summers, and Mix herself. An entertaining diegetic sequence features the artists describing the various genres they operate under. In any case, the differing disciplines make for a rich aural experience.
I wasn’t expecting such polished performances but both Mix and Kitten are capable actors. Mix has a somewhat difficult arc and nails it. She underplays Lennon and earns our sympathies while only occasionally giving us a glimpse of what lies beneath her innocent façade. Kitten is more gregarious, making for an effective counterpoint. Her exuberance is endearing and we can easily see why Lennon would latch onto her. Abdul Seidu also puts in authentic work in a small role. Without any dialog at all and despite wearing a mask for nearly the entire 87-minute runtime, Z Wolf delivers on some key moments.
I’d like to say more about Ori Segov and Noah Dixon’s Poser, but I don’t want to spoil some of the film’s intricacies. This is an assured feature-length debut for the talented pair and I’m excited to see what the future holds for them. Even if there weren’t a connection to Columbus, I’d still find this to be a cool and punky indie flick. Poser is debuting in Columbus at the Gateway Film Center on June 3rd, and in New York and LA on June 17th. Highly recommended for fans of Ingrid Goes West, Mid90S, and Almost Famous.
Michael Cavender