The Adept (2015) User Reviews

Indeed, it is...

[MrGKB · 7/10 · 18 November 2018]

...adept, that is, on all counts. Production value, script, direction, camerawork, lighting, etc., and two fine actors all meld into one unified teaser short. It's a shame it doesn't appear to have generated a series or a film. Adam "FTL" Stern deserves a crack at a feature, that's certain. Recommended.

Well Done, But...

[Hitchcoc · 8/10 · 19 June 2019]

I suppose I should accept that many of these short films don't bother to give us a result. A couple of researchers begin to tap into some sort of power that comes as they work on a type of quantum theory. Soon they are levitating things, making cards stop in mid-air. But there's a price to be paid. Unfortunately, there will be no sequel, and again the writers left us hanging.

Top notch short film which will leave you wishing it was longer

[RPiech42 · 10/10 · 6 July 2015]

For such a short film (only 9 minutes) The Adept has quite the impact. This is a production that exudes quality right the way through from the acting to the writing. Also, a special nod of approval has to go to the visual FX, which are especially good for a film of this length. The film contains 2 actors that are on screen for almost the entire duration- Adam Greydon Reid (as Ben) and Jennifer Spence (as Maddy). Given the film is so short, they both do a great job convincing us that they are a couple. Discussions about work and chores like washing the dishes set the scene for what happens next... the magic. Ben takes to his new powers with aplomb, gradually growing more and more confident- and by the end of the 9 minutes he is able to do some pretty remarkable things! Like many a good short film, it ends on a cliff-hanger. I can guarantee that you will be begging to know what happens next. All we need know is a sequel! The Adept 2 anyone?

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!!

Great short

[s_70-891-413555 · 9/10 · 12 September 2017]

First of all, I have been a member of IMDb for over 3 years and never posted a review. I watched this short, written and directed by Adam Stern, and felt so strongly about it that I just had to. This is a short film from Artifex Studios. The principle characters appear to be two scientists (Ben and Maddy) who are in a relationship. They are enjoying a meal together when Ben decides to demonstrate a new card trick. They begin to discuss some of the more esoteric finer points of their work. Ben gets distracted and...something amazing happens. I was initially not interested in watching this short after the poster turned me off. Thank goodness I didn't judge a book by it's cover. This is a little gem that would benefit enormously from becoming a full-length feature. There are aspects of the short that seem a little derivative of The Matrix but it's sufficiently different that I was intrigued to see where they were going with the story. Ben is played by Adam Greydon Reid, a fantastic turn that I really bought into. His partner was played by Jennifer Spence. These two actors really elevated the piece. I would strongly advise giving it a watch and would like to see a full length version. Recommended 4/5

precise work

[Kirpianuscus · 21 November 2018]

A great short Sci. Fi. Fascinating more than beautiful. Impressive for the performances and smart use of FX. A card trick ending in unique adventure. A couple. And a seductive grow up of powers. All, at first sigh, so natural. Result - a profound special film, giving ordinaries aspect of cohabitation, dialogues about everyday thing and a great portrait of magic escaping from a scientific experiment. Short, a fine precise work.