First Impressions

Story Notes

Leanna and the entity meet. What we are introduced to is the fact that people with particular forms of schizophrenia are not only drawn towards Cage's room as though following a familiar song or smell. And more than this, we discover that merely through touching the boy, they act as an unwilling conduit for the voice of the entity.

Like Cage, some schizophrenics view the world without filters. They do not reduce the cognitive dissonance between what they are perceiving or experiencing, and what is "supposed to be". The entity exploits this to his advantage while trying to figure out what's happened.

The entity is still constrained by Cage's act of willpower, however, it is able to communicate through these temporary connections, and to some extent take limited actions, based on the inherent anger within the conduit. At this stage the entity plays it's cards pretty close to the vest , not sure yet how to manipulate the "meat puppets" around him to set himself free.

But we're getting way ahead of ourselves. Leanna does not know any of this. After all, Ruth is frequently dissasociative from reality. This could be just another one of her episode. Except that Ruth apparently knows things that she shouldn't. Like who gave Cage the prism.

Leanna starts to get a very strong bad feeling. You know the kind. It is precicely that unquantifiable sensation that something very foul and malicious is near.

She tries at first to circumvent the mood swing but the entity's arrogance gives her pause. Then, retreating back into Ruth's personality the entity hopes it might be able to use Leanna in some way. A spine tingling sensation of fear rushes over Leanna.

Before anything can happen, Cage squints, as though he's trying to warn Leanna of something. This is enough to make Leanna break the connection between Cage and Ruth, at which point Ruth crumbles and the tension and darkness immediately vacate the room, leaving Leanna with an unexplained mystery.

Filmmaker's Notes

Ruth was a real pleasure to work with. She had amazing range and often surprised us on set. Karen did an excellent job of conveying her uncertainty and conflicting rational mind, with her emotional identity. One of many scenes where Karen gave a subtle multi-layered performance.

Technically we were on our game and in full stride here, which felt nice.

 
 

Interviews

Selected Scene Explorations

  1. Opening Montage
  2. The Intruder
  3. Opposites Attract
  4. The Hospital
  5. The Patients
  6. First Impressons
  7. An Issue of Trust
  8. First Big Clue
  9. A Door is Opened
  10. Confronting the Witness
  11. Testing a theory
  12. Enter Mason
  13. The Conversation
  14. Leanna is Lost
  15. The Entity Forms a Plan
  16. Leanna's Call, Bill's Epiphany
  17. Only one of us can stay
  18. Resolution

Thoughts and Spooky Production Stories:

HInts and Inspirations.