Little Fish is a 2021 science fiction romantic drama directed by Chad Hartigan, from a screenplay by Mattson Tomlin. It tells the story of a couple that fights to hold their relationship together as a memory loss virus spreads and threatens to erase the history of their love and courtship.
The cast includes Olivia Cooke, Jack O'Connell, Raúl Castillo and Soko.
Little Fish was released in theaters on February 5th, courtesy of IFC Films.
The Good
Fairly under the radar which is usually the case with IFC Films releases, the science fiction romantic drama Little Fish based on a short story by novelist Aja Gabel, caught my eye so I decided to take advantage of some “me time” and check it out at my local theater. PSA - Times are tough, so support your local theaters who are taking all of the necessary safety precautions when you can to ensure they can keep their doors open. I was right about the under the radar part as I had the entire theater to myself (our own seemingly never ending pandemic was surely a factor as well), and as my server brought me my pipin’ hot chicken tenders and waffle fries, I was ready.
Lets just say I really enjoyed this movie and I couldn’t wait to get home and talk about it. It was the perfect length, never boring, and had one of those thought provoking endings that made you want to immediately watch it again making it feel like the movie never really ended.
Little Fish has a very unique and engaging premise which really hits close to home considering the current climate. Instead of a virus that can have detrimental effects on our respiratory system, this unpredictable virus that plagues the not so distant future causes memory loss which can be sudden, or come in waves.
Out of nowhere, people start forgetting their friends, partners, or something as simple as an entire conversation they had 30 minutes ago. Usually it’s specific details, but you could be heading back from the grocery store and all of sudden forget where you’re going, or even worse where you even live. Because nobody wants to admit they are experiencing symptoms, they keep it from others making it so by the time they come clean and get diagnosed the effects are usually more severe. This brings on a Memento like phenomenon, pushing people to tattoo things on their body or write notes on the back of photos as a way to remember. It’s like living with the fear that you could develop Alzheimer’s at any moment, forgetting all of the memories you hold dear to your heart causing you to become a shell of your former self. Crazy to think about.
The acting in Little Fish is incredible, lead by powerful performances from leads Olivia Cooke and Jack O’Connell. The chemistry that developed between these two is crucial to the success of a film that relies on reaching viewers on an emotional level. I’ve been a fan of Cooke since the Bates Motel series and loved her in Me and Earl and the Dying Girl.
O’Connell might be one of the most underrated actors working today, and this performance is proof of that. After starring in Unbroken (2014), he was incredible in the Netflix western series Godless, as well as the recently released Jungleland alongside Charlie Hunnam. Take my word for it and keep an eye on this guy, he’s going places.
I also really liked Raul Castillo in his supporting role as well. Less recognizable in comparison, he was in Knives Out, and also played a role in two popular Netflix shows in the last few years, Seven Seconds and Atypical.
Little Fish is director Chad Hartigan’s first film since 2013’s Morris from America starring Craig Robinson, and he absolutely deserves some recognition for what he was able to do here. Hartigan crafted a layered love story that will leave viewers questioning what they thought they knew, and the way he put the underlying message at the forefront in the films finale was genius. Part of me would have preferred to have ordered this on-demand instead so that I could watch it again right away. Pairing nicely with the storyline and the acting, the cinematography and score is flawless from start to finish.
The Bad
Based on a short story from novelist Aja Gabel, the transition to the screen does include a few plot holes for those of you who enjoy picking a storyline apart, but I don’t think it takes away from the overall impact of the film.
The Verdict
With incredible performances from Olivia Cooke and Jack O'Connell and a unique and thought provoking premise, Little Fish is a special film that should not be missed. Highly recommended.
TED TAKES RATING - 8.5/10
Little Fish is now in theaters and available On-Demand. Check out the trailer below courtesy of IFC Films.
Read the full short story from novelist Aja Gabel that the film is based on here (I recommend watching the movie first, of course).