Roller Coaster (2015) User Reviews

Wish the ride was longer

[gooseprod · 10/10 · 29 December 2015]

ROLLER COASTER was fun from start to finish. The juxtaposition of Emily's day with her younger self at an amusement park increased the feeling of everything being out of control. We've all had days like this, and this universal theme was expressed in such a way that we can all empathize with Emily's frenetic state.

Smart writing and directing choices led to a film that is just the right amount of over-the-top humor and no melodramatic dialog.

Hilariously expressive acting from Sarah Hawkins drives the fun throughout.

Technical excellence is on display throughout. The sound design adds to the action and never distracts.

A great film!

Murphy's Law Strikes Again!

[davehunter-91795 · 10/10 · 5 December 2015]

I saw this recently, and its rawness and authenticity really stood out to me. It's easily to relate to, as we've all had days where what could go wrong, did. I liked the humor of it- at times, subtle, other times, over the top. Sarah Hawkins is wonderful as Emily, the main character. She seems very natural and I felt sympathy as her character fights her way through her day. Jim Casella's score also added a lot to the film, as it blended well with both the characters and the action of the story. This film reminded me of a Chaplin film or Buster Keaton. A lot of physicality as well as some pretty outrageous characters. It's a fun film to watch. What I liked most was the pacing and the music, which really gave a sense of what the audition process is like. The acting is spot on. I look forward to more work from this director.

Roller Coaster: A Quality Short Film

[lukejohntopping · 10/10 · 21 December 2015]

Short films are tough. Most viewers have far less experience watching short films than feature length ones, and so are less fluent in the language of the genre they're viewing. Additionally, most directors have a harder time creating the "magic of the movies" when given only a fraction of the time - and often times a fraction of the money - they would have when working on a feature length film. Yet the challenges of short films, both for viewers and creators, can sometimes lead to truly wonderful films, and such is the case with Bradley Hawkin's Roller Coaster. It is an excellent film that manages to balance the timing, whit, and relatable characters needed to make a great short. As the lead, Sarah Hawkins demonstrates her versatility as an actress by managing to make you laugh all while being knocked around by a worst-day-of-the- year type situation. I highly recommend this movie to both new comers and seasoned veterans of the short film genre.

The Road May Be Bumpy, but Roller Coaster is a Smooth Ride

[meganheefner · 10/10 · 23 December 2015]

As a lover of movies, I was delighted to be part of the Lebanon County premiere of this award winning, comedy short film. From the beginning, ominous music plays, which belies the lighthearted and relatable storyline. The twists and turns of Emily's day are humorous and honest. From waking up late to getting a parking ticket, the movie puts a series of unfortunate events into context as it heads towards its happy conclusion. While watching this film, I was blown away by how Sarah Hawkins portrayed her character, Emily flawlessly without a single word being spoken. A number of scenes had me laughing out loud and shaking my head in sympathy for the poor girl who just couldn't seem to catch a break. Overall, this debut promises a long road of success ahead for the talented Bradley and Sarah Hawkins.

Well done!

[lms-66206 · 10/10 · 23 December 2015]

Great short! Fun to watch! It's a cute little story that is relatable to us all, but should really connect with actors and actresses and the gut-wrenching anticipation of an audition. In this case, complicated by a stream of frustrating events.

You could feel the frustration in Emily as one thing after another goes wrong. How many of us haven't pounded the steering wheel in frustration? This reinforces that it's much easier to chuckle when it's happening to some else.

Roller Coaster was an enjoyable ride - well acted, well edited and well directed. It's easy to see why this is already an award winner. Should be interesting to see what else comes their way.

Looking forward to more from this director. Perhaps something feature length with this level of excellence.

A Great Ride!

[zmusser1 · 10/10 · 17 December 2015]

I loved watching Bradley Hawkins' comedy short film Roller Coaster! The film is a hilarious take on the everything-goes-wrong Murphy's Law sort of day that can get the best of us all sometimes. Playing Emily, a character based largely on her own life experiences, Hawkins' daughter Sarah absolutely slays with her visual humor in a film nearly devoid of dialogue as she races around LA trying desperately not to let life's unexpected loops, hills and corkscrews get in the way of her dreams!

It really is such an impressively sharp, crisp, entertaining and believable film that it's hard to believe this is Hawkins' directorial debut! If you're at all a fan of cinema (which I would assume you are if you are reading this review) then this coaster ride is definitely worth taking!

Unforgettable Ride

[jreich-06460 · 10/10 · 23 December 2015]

The exceptional comedy short, Roller Coaster, written and directed by Bradley Hawkins, revolves around "Emily," a young actress who encounters various obstacles while trying to make her way to an audition. Through the music and acting, the short film takes a hurried and frustrating ride through Los Angeles that hooks you from the very beginning. Using a point-of-view shot ascending the tracks of a roller coaster combined with music reminiscent of a horror film, a feeling of dread abounds, alluding that something is bound to go terribly wrong. One of the most noteworthy aspects of the film is the way that the maddening journey "Emily" (Sarah Hawkins) takes through LA is juxtaposed with quick shots of a younger version of herself screaming her way through a roller coaster ride, giving an inside look into the feelings of the young actress. Another fascinating aspect of the film is the way the writer/director, Bradley Hawkins, is able to say so much with so little dialogue. The audience cannot help but laugh at the relatable reactions "Emily" has to the troubles that she faces. Roller Coaster is not to be missed, and I am looking forward to seeing what Hawkins creates next.

A life struggle we can relate to!

[ksnooookiee · 9/10 · 18 December 2015]

Firstly, I want to say congratulations to my old high school teacher Bradley Hawkins for directing this film. Secondly, the film has a personable feel to it, it invokes emotions and jogs your brain into thinking about how you can relate to issues that go on daily. The acting is spot on for all characters, (each played a role of a "realistic person"). Also, for the length of the film it definitely leaves an impact on you because there is just so much to observe. I strongly suggest checking this out one way or another, a wonderful film, actors, and directing . Remember if you do see Roller-coaster (2015) to strap in and prepare for the ride because you'll enjoy the film.

A young actress experiences Murphy's Law on the way to an audition.

[markrtill · 9/10 · 30 December 2015]

I love a film that is tight...and this one is. The story moves with a perfect pace that keeps the viewer constantly wondering what will happen next. The cinematography is executed at an extremely high level. The evoking of a Chaplin/Hitchcock-esque style is fascinating. "Show me...don't tell me" is at the heart of the film. Young Sarah Hawkins is prefect for the role and brings an effervescence to the character that has you fully empathizing and rooting for her all the way. Obviously Bradley Hawkins is a directorial force to be reckoned with! I especially loved the juxtaposition of two very different clips that guide the film along while creating some added dynamic tension to the feel of the film. And the maraschino cherry on the sundae? A certain domestic animal eating your favorite fast food. I laughed my butt off! Congratulations to the entire cast and crew...well done.

Funny and Relatable!

[onemeantweet · 10/10 · 19 May 2017]

As I sat watching this short film, I was amazed at how well I could relate to everything Emily (Sarah Hawkins) was going through. We've all had days like the one Emily was having and to be able to relate and see that kind of day from a different perspective was refreshing. It's no surprise that the film has won many awards. Dadley Productions has a bright future!

Roller Coaster is a delightful ride!

[sreddig · 10/10 · 30 December 2015]

Roller Coaster is a rare gem of a short film that takes you on an emotional up and down journey, and leaves you wanting to take the ride with the film makers over and over again. The story is a simple one. Young actress Emily Chadwick, played by newcomer Sarah Hawkins, encounters many relatable obstacles on her way to an audition. It would have been very easy to take this Murphy's Law tale into farcical territory. Instead, the multitalented Bradley Hawkins has written and directed the story to focus on Emily's naturalness, and ease her through the rough moments and oddities around her. Sarah Hawkins has such a genuine freshness as Emily, that as the camera follows her twists and turns - we feel the frustration, anxiety and joys along with her. That Ms. Hawkins conveys all of these emotions in a largely unspoken part, speaks volumes to her ability to play for the camera and I look forward to seeing her blossoming movie career. Also noteworthy is first time director Bradley Hawkins' efforts in shepherding an ensemble of acting talent and technical skill - especially in regard to photography, musical score, and editing. The pacing and tone of Mr. Hawkins' directing style work well here and are sure to translate into many future projects. Ultimately what Roller Coaster and Bradley Hawkins delivers is a delightful ride.

Quite the emotional Roller Coaster

[ajgroy · 9/10 · 4 January 2016]

Roller Coaster is a short film that the general public, not just actors, can relate to. The cinematography was simple and meaningful while explaining the story of this young actress rushing around a chaotic Los Angeles. The emotions ran high from lead actress, Sarah Hawkins as she took us through numerous expressions and attitudes during her day. The short has a good pace and seems to hit the comedic high points at just the right time. It really does seem like an emotional roller coaster due to what the character experiences as she tries to make the right decisions while going about her day. The extras made the piece more realistic.

I really enjoyed this short!

A True Masterpiece from Both Father and Daughter

[peterfent · 10/10 · 5 January 2016]

This one's a true masterpiece from both father and daughter. The Hawkins duo is definitely one to keep an eye on. I've once heard it said (maybe in 9th grade English class or something) that the ultimate goal of a short story is to capture a facet of the human experience. I don't have a whole lot of experience in short film, but what I will say is Brad Hawkins' Roller Coaster does exactly that: a facet of the human experience is captured so beautifully that it only needed 10 words of dialogue in the entire runtime! It takes a special kind of talent to take the audience into the world of someone unlike their own (I am neither a woman nor an actress), but the whole time as I watched the film, I found myself groaning in empathy along with Sarah Hawkins as she is dealt the audition day from hell. I found myself saying, "I've been there, Sarah. I've been there", when in reality, I've never been in that exact situation. I have to hand that to both Brad Hawkins' superb writing and directing and Sarah Hawkins' exceptional acting. In short, Roller Coaster is a fun film evoking rich empathy throughout, exploring the emotional roller coaster a day in a young person's life can be. A must see!