Athena
Athena
Hours after the tragic death of their youngest brother in unexplained circumstances, three siblings have their lives thrown into chaos.
Kevin Ward reviewedJuly 5, 2025
A technical marvel from a filmmaking perspective. The 11 minute ‘one take’ to open the film is mind blowing in it’s execution. At one point during this prolonged sequence, the camera does a 360 in middle of a packed van, exits the side door while it’s speeding down the road to capture a wide shot of the van. Incredible sequence and with the late title card drop, this one makes it onto one of my faves — Long Cold Open. The usage of tracking shots load the film with tension well beyond the opening sequence and the pace of the film never really lets up until the final act. Regarding that final act, there’s a character pivot that didn’t feel completely earned and as such some of this characters actions don’t feel completely justified. And I suspect that there are many that will not like the final shot of the film. I’m conflicted because dramatically, I believe the final shot works extremely well, as it pulls back the curtain on the inciting incident. Thematically, I really don’t care for it’s message. I’m not in the ACAB camp, but there absolutely are systemic issues in many law enforcement institutions that prioritize protecting their own above protecting the citizens. I think that last shot parochially lets cops completely off the hook. Definitely worth checking out for it’s technical merits, even if the final act loses some luster.