A man chases off his daughter's boyfriend.
WIFEY REDUX is used with permission from Robert McKeon. Learn more at https://wifeyredux.com.
Jonathan Predergast wants everyone to believe all is well in his home. But the truth is he's actually struggling with his marriage, and his teen daughter is pulling away in a move for more independence -- which also includes a handsome new boyfriend.
Jonathan becomes obsessed with chasing off the boyfriend, but his efforts begin to chip away at his family's bonds -- and his own sanity.
Director Robert McKeon puts a darkly comic spin on the family drama in this dramatic short, which is based on an acclaimed short story by Irish writer Kevin Barry.
The escalating emotional journey is adeptly charted by excellent acting performances, captured with psychological acute camerawork and an eye for the foibles people commit in the name of fear and love. The camera documents the shiny surfaces of Jonathan's life, but the sharp performances and dialogue capture the tensions over holding it all together while falling apart inside.
WIFEY REDUX strikes an unusual tone, dealing as it does with uncomfortable personal issues and a main character who isn't entirely honest with himself, much less the people he loves. But the internal conflict within Jonathan, and the external ones he creates, are both pathos-inducing and very funny, making for a richly human cinematic experience.