WRITER & DIRECTOR
Noah Meister

STARS
Jack Welshons, Monterio Caldwell, Colin Callahan, Samantha Ipema, Samuel Haberman and Aaron Harris

All That Glitters is an independently made and self-funded film by writer and director Noah Meister. A passion project loosely based on his own experiences in high school, the film revolves around Christopher (Jack Welshons) and his opportunistic introduction into the drug culture quietly operating behind the scenes among some of his peers. When he attends a party that many other students are present at, he discovers a less quiet and much darker side to what life in this environment will look like should he choose to go down this path.

Naturally, we are accustomed to films that are granted a bigger budget, or a budget even, than what All That Glitters has in its bank. Consequently, that means films like this are scarcely seen. Nevertheless, its viewing accessibility on YouTube and Tubi is equal to the accessibility of its story to a fairly broad audience.

The writing and directing of this film is competent. Simply competent. So too are the acting performances (I thought Monterio Caldwell as Mack was especially good). These attributes form a natural flow throughout that enables viewers to settle into this story and where it might take us. As competent as the writing is, there was also potential for more. During the film, we learn that Christopher’s grades have been plummeting of late, before he acquaints the drug world. From the start of the film, he comes across as rather nonchalant and a little bit distant. Characteristics such as this do provoke curiosity, but the film doesn’t delve into any of his background. A sub-plot or two that provides the film and its story with a couple of layers underpinning the present (and only) timeline is something that I believe was needed and feels amiss here, especially when ongoing dialogue being exchanged between characters struggles to progress the story at a more suitable pace. Thankfully, at just 75 minutes in length, these patches of the film are short-lived. It also saves its best for last, where all main characters converge at the aforementioned party. There is genuine suspense injected into some of these scenes that take Christopher down a path we and he can’t necessarily foresee. Also worthy of a compliment is the music score. Its distribution throughout may not always be on point, but the choice in style (I would describe it as electronic or something akin to it) definitely helps to create the ambience it is undoubtedly seeking.

All That Glitters is now available to view via YouTube.

Moviedoc thanks writer and director Noah Meister for personally contacting him and supplying a screener link to watch and review his film.

Review by Leigh for Moviedoc

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