Director: Merlin Camozzi

Producer: Merlin Camozzi; Kristifor Cvijetic; Kareem Mortimer; Jenny Leigh Reed

Cast: Cassady McClincy Zhang; Dempsey Bryk; Lucy Walters; Royce Johnson; Dominic Bogart

Cinematographer: Logan Floyd

Dani decides to get drugs for the first time to enhance both hers and her friends’ party experience, but in the process, she is arrested. Her life takes a turn, the police are putting pressure on her. For her freedom, she has to give a name, help them find someone in the process of selling, going as far as threatening her with imprisonment and losing her scholarship. Her dreams of a scholarship and leaving become a distant memory as she loses herself to the high stakes of danger and being unable to share her predicament.

This crime thriller grabs viewers with the intensity of the plot. It draws out anger, disbelief, and the need to research on law. Unfortunately, it’s based on a true story, making the events of this film a reality. This is no longer a film but an awareness raised to protect and be intentionally present for those around us. Through Dani, we realize how a single decision can bring loss and despair, making it carry more weight than one might think.

If there is one thing to applaud in this film, it is that the cast delivered strong chemistry and unwavering emotional depth. Mostly Cassidy McClincy, as she is taken on an emotional rollercoaster, she embodies the character well, portraying the toll the police pressure takes on her. The Snare’s pacing is relentless mirroring how fast her life spirals. Additionally, the cinematographer, Logan Floyd leans on cold and dim lighting making Dani’s isolation feel real. This film is one to be mentioned in rooms, as detectives should do their own jobs and not involve children by blackmailing them, whether the laws allow it or not.