What would be the best time to film and release a movie about a pandemic? In the middle of a pandemic, of course. That is exactly what director Adam Mason (The Devil's Chair) did this past summer while Los Angeles was on lockdown. Songbird, which is being distributed this month by STX Films, is the result of this venture. Written by Mason and Simon Boyes (Broken), the films stars K.J. Apa (Riverdale), Sofia Carson (Descendants), Demi Moore (G.I. Jane), Bradley Whitford (Get Out), Craig Robinson (Hot Tub Time Machine), and Alexandra Daddario (Baywatch). With so much talent, one would expect an excellent product but, alas, Songbird falls short.
The year is 2024 and COVID-23 is killing people at alarming rates. Everyone is quarantined beside a few lucky soles who are immune. Nico (Apa) is one of the latter and works as a messenger for Lester (Robinson), shuttling packages all over the city. In his free time, Nico video chats with his girlfriend, Sara (Carlson), whom he has never actually met. Sara lives in an apartment with her grandmother, Lita (Elpidia Carrillo; Predator) where she spends her day painting and face-timing with Nico. However, when one of Sara and Lita's neighbors tests positive for COVID, the "sanitation worker, comes and takes her away to the "Q" zone.
The next day Lita gets sick and Sara knows that the workers will be coming for both of them. Nico, suddenly desperate, begs Lester to tell him a contact who can make Nico fake immunity bracelets. When Lester tells Nico one of his "clients", William (Whitford) and Piper (Moore) Griffin are dealers, Nico goes to them for help. William and Piper play dumb and Nico leaves empty-handed. Piper then contacts a Sanitation Worker named Emmett (Peter Stormare; Constantine) to kill Nico but when Emmett doesn't succeed Nico returns to Piper, breaks into her house, and threatens her until she gives him an immunity bracelet for Sara.
For Apa, this is a more mature role than what we are used to seeing from him on Riverdale. He is grittier both in appearance and demeanor and this transformation looks good on him. The same can be said for Carlson, who has made a name for herself mainly on the Disney Channel. Moore and Whitford are seasoned professionals which comes across on screen. Perhaps. The most challenging role belongs to Daddario, who goes from cheery to sadness to disgust to anger at various moments throughout the movie.
Mason's direction offers an intimate view of Nico and Sara while, at the same time, inviting the viewer into a larger space, depicted through overhead shots (sometimes from a drone). The Marshall law aspect of the movie, as well as the utter isolation of the devastating effect of a global pandemic, are both chilling and sobering considering the world we are living in right now. It is also a reminder of the lengths people will go to for survival for themselves and/or a loved one.
From the production aspect to the chaotic storyline, with numerous subplots thrown in, Songbird isn't a masterpiece. It also doesn't help anyone who is freaked out by our current health situation as the film's timeline makes everything seem more desperate and isolated and offers additional safety procedures than we are experiencing right now. In the film, it is interesting to watch how different people navigate the lockdown, as well as how the United States Government deals with it.
Songbird is not a great film and is all over the place as far as the plot is concerned. It is also scary to think that unless we get this virus under control, this could conceivably be our future. Watch it if you must but take it with a grain of salt.
Grade: C-
