Sometimes unspeakable tragedy completely rewires one’s own reality. What happens when reality and the afterlife are blurred?
In Spades, Johnny Yong Bosch explores the haunting ghosts of past experiences and redemption. This action‑packed neo‑noir film follows Detective James Bishop (Jason Narvy) as he recovers from survivor’s guilt and PTSD after the brutal fall of his brothers‑in‑arms. With a job as a detective, he tries showing up, following protocols and procedures — a façade of wellness in place. A vigilante shows up, leaving a trail of human traffickers and various spade cards in his wake. As if that isn’t enough, Bishop’s daughter goes missing, forcing him to come to terms with his past.
Still in awe after this film’s director, Yong Bosch, discloses creating this film with a budget of $50,000. What would he do with a bigger budget if he creates a masterpiece with a microbudget? Choosing to share his passion through his feature directorial debut, Spades, and his independent production company, Vox Rocket Studio. A steady start to his director role, as Spades already holds different awards.
Every part of this film is strategically done. Starting with the cast that shapes this character‑driven film. Each brought authenticity to their roles, making the story believable. Most of all, this film is a good representation of “show, don’t tell.” Bishop’s struggles aren’t told but seen — from the shakes of his hands, the dull lighting, and his decline in combat readiness. As much as these parts carried the narrative, the dialogues were over‑exerted, making the characters tell the viewers the plot, losing the mystery aspect by not letting it unfold by itself.
The obsessive rumination of what transpired during battle was a genius play from the producers of this film. It anchored the story, creating a mentally and emotionally evocative backstory, also backing Bishop’s lack of proficiency.
Still in awe after this film’s director, Yong Bosch, discloses creating this film with a budget of $50,000. What would he do with a bigger budget if he creates a masterpiece with a microbudget? Choosing to share his passion through his feature directorial debut, Spades, and his independent production company, Vox Rocket Studio. A steady start to his director role, as Spades already holds different awards.
Every part of this film is strategically done. Starting with the cast that shapes this character‑driven film. Each brought authenticity to their roles, making the story believable. Most of all, this film is a good representation of “show, don’t tell.” Bishop’s struggles aren’t told but seen — from the shakes of his hands, the dull lighting, and his decline in combat readiness. As much as these parts carried the narrative, the dialogues were over‑exerted, making the characters tell the viewers the plot, losing the mystery aspect by not letting it unfold by itself.
The obsessive rumination of what transpired during battle was a genius play from the producers of this film. It anchored the story, creating a mentally and emotionally evocative backstory, also backing Bishop’s lack of proficiency.
Spades is now available to rent or purchase on Amazon Prime Video.
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