In ElemenTory, director Terrence Arlyn takes viewers on a tense and emotional ride, exploring a scenario that every parent dreads a child gone missing without a trace. The film follows the Reddick and Adams families, whose worlds are shattered when their young children disappear from school one day.
As the police investigation stalls and the school administrators seem more interested in covering up the incidents than actually finding the kids, the parents take matters into their own hands. What starts as a desperate act escalates into the group essentially taking control of the school premises to hunt for clues about their children's fates.
The acting performances are raw and powerful, perfectly capturing the anguish, determination and unraveling emotional state of the mothers and fathers. Juliette Valdez is particularly tremendous, displaying a wide range of emotions as a mother pushed to her limits. The thriller elements keep you on the edge of your seat, but it's the very real and heartbreaking human drama that makes this film so gripping.
While a couple plot points strained credulity at times, overall ElemenTory is a taut, suspenseful exploration of how far parents will go to protect their children. It puts you right in the mindset of these characters making increasingly desperate choices, all motivated by that fundamental parental drive. An intense, emotional ride from start to finish.
