Moth Music
Drama, Short Films, 23-May-2022
Cast off by society, a former fast food worker seeks justice for himself and other men through the teachings of a self help leader. “Moth Music,” directed by Ciaran Davis-McGregor, operates within modes of repulsion, distortion, and self-hate, with wafts of pitch black humor and touches of absurdity. Recently fired from flipping burgers, Derrick turns to a would-be guru, Andre, whose ‘teachings’ revolve around group humiliation sessions. During the abusive therapy, Derrick vaguely befriends a man in the house named Dale who also recently lost his job (and all his friends) due to his chronic bad breath. When Derrick is enlisted to lead Dale’s humiliation session, he struggles to go through with it, until the tables are turned. At the intersection of toxic masculinity and psychological disorder, Davis-McGregor crafts an exceedingly unpleasant experience with visceral performances and oppressive atmospheres, rendered with vivid 16mm visuals. -KA. Writer, director, editor: Ciaran Davis-McGregor. DOP, Sound Mixer: Colin Williscroft. Producer: Sam Mason. Production Designer: Ashley Yeung. 1st AD: Rowan Landaiche. Music by: Colin Brattey. Cast: Sean Patrick Brennan, Santiago Henderson, Derek Patterson, Niall Creegan.