Mass – Film Review

Years after an unspeakable tragedy tore their lives apart, two sets of parents (Jason Isaacs and Martha Plimpton, Reed Birney and Ann Dowd) agree to talk privately in an attempt to move forward. In Fran Kranz‘s writing and directing debut, he thoughtfully examines their journey of grief, anger, and acceptance by coming face-to-face with the ones who have been left behind.

Fran Kanz’s Mass is without question the most emotionally charged and most difficult-to-watch movie released in 2021. It deals with some extremely sensitive subject matter and is certainly not going to be for everyone, but for those who enjoy watching films that get deep under the skin, ask difficult questions, and present us with a cast of characters that are so interesting you can’t look away, Mass is going to be a thrill-ride you won’t forget.

From the moment it begins all to the way to the devastating final few frames, Mass is an unforgiving watch that expertly explores themes such as grief, loss, and anger, and features one of the best scripts in years. To think about the fact that Mass is the directorial debut from Kranz – who also wrote the script – is genuinely staggering. Some directors will spend their entire careers trying to make a film so emotionally-charged and thought-provoking, and yet Kranz comes along and makes it all look so easy.

The entire film takes place in one room and only really focuses on four different people throughout its nearly two-hour running time. For some, this is going to prove to be a difficult watch because every scene of this movie is dialogue. There’s no “big” scene where something riveting happens in terms of breaking away from dialogue, but I think that’s perfect. As long as you go into Mass knowing that every scene is dialogue and character-driven, then you should have an absolute blast with it.

And to not mention the actors involved with this project would be criminal. Reed Birney is an incredibly moving actor in the role of Richard, who feels so hurt and pained throughout the film. All you have to do to know that Ann Dowd’s Linda is going through hell and back is look into her eyes. Right inside, you can see the torture. Jason Isaacs and Martha Plimpton are legitimately devastating to watch on-screen. The things that these four characters talk about are not for the light of heart.

Mass is an unforgiving watch in all the best ways. It presents us with a heart-wrenching, smartly executed script that focuses on characters first and foremost to drive the plot forward. Not to mention the staggering cinematography from Ryan Jackson-Healy on display. For those seeking a searing drama filled with truly unforgettable lead performances, look no further than Fran Kranz’s magnificent Mass.