FANTASIA 2020 | A Quirky Spin On Vintage Training Videos Makes "Survival Skills" An Enjoyable Comedy/Drama

11/12 ForReel Score | 4.5/5 Stars

“The most important qualities a policeman can have are honesty, diligence, and a commitment to justice. No matter what.” This is the first piece of advice that Survival Skills narrator, impeccably played and voiced by Stacy Keach, offers after introducing rookie officer Jim Williams (Vayu O’Donnell) in the opening of the film. Jim certainly has all three qualities, but his good intentions quickly become his greatest weakness, and how his story unfolds in Survival Skills is a fascinating experience to watch.

Survival Skills, styled almost entirely like an old and staticy 80’s VHS police training video, follows Jim through the early stages of his first year of field training. When he and his FTO, Officer Allison Lohmann (Ericka Kreutz), are called to deescalate a domestic violence incident, Jim is unsatisfied with the resolution, fearing that the wife and daughter involved are still residing in a hostile environment. He breaks from standard procedure to personally contact and advise the victims; a fateful decision that does not play out at all like Jim expects it to.

One of the things that makes Survival Skills so entertaining is Jim, his animatronic body language, and his oddly enthusiastic personality. It so often runs counter to socially accepted behavior and intuition, leading to many comically awkward interactions with his colleagues. However, he also bolsters a keen aptitude for empathy which provides for some of the most emotionally compelling moments in the film. Vayu’s performance as Jim is commendable as he navigates the struggles of his character’s journey in this child-like and naive manner.

But what makes the movie so important is how it handles it’s primary subject matter. Themes about domestic violence, broken resource systems, and the role of the police are scrutinized under the microscope of this creative premise. The result is a comprehensive take on how ambition motivated by good intentions can be worn down and corrupted. Writer and director Quinn Armstrong curates this poignant story with great focus on the points he wants to make. At a time when tension between police and the public is high, Survival Skills offers a unique perspective on the challenges of the job. It may not directly address every current social conflict involving the police, but the film does offer a glimpse into why the justice system does not always work the way we think it should.

“It’s not going to be easy,” the narrator goes on to say in the intro of the training video. “But at the end of it, you will have learned some valuable survival skills.” Though Jim deviates from the intended training, he does in fact learn a lot about the reality of his job and the people he has sworn to protect. With its recent international premiere at Fantasia 2020, Survival Skills is like Jim in the sense that it’s entering the world with a lot of great ambition and good intentions. But unlike Jim, good intentions are a strength for this film, and I believe it will be met with equal enthusiasm.

Acting and Casting - 2 | Visual Effects and Editing - 2 | Story and Message - 2 | Entertainment Value - 2 | Music Score and Soundtrack - 1 | Reviewer's Preference - 2 | What does this mean?

Learn more about the film:

https://www.survivalskillsmovie.com/