Sundance 2023 Film Festival  – Michael Ironside has a history of playing villains in film. In writer/director Andrew Fitzgerald‘s short, The Family Circus, he plays an imposing cop that threatens to unravel a family attempting to cover up a son’s drunk driving incident. The film is a tense family drama set against the backdrop of Christmas.

The short open just as Paul (Blake Dang) stumbles through the front door and tells his parents, Bill (Scott Subiono) and Linh (Elyse Dinh), that he smashed a shipping crate with his car. Because no one was injured, the family, including brother John (Michael Nguyen Manceau), decides to cover it up, hoping no one finds out and it all goes away. The only problem is that John and Bill soon encounter an unnamed cop. He invites himself inside their house to use the bathroom, but he won’t leave. First, he stares at their tree, fascinated by the ornaments, and then he helps himself to some pie. He’s that one guest you just can’t get rid of.

This short is really carried by its performances and tension. Ironside’s gravelly voice constantly feels menacing.  He’s an imposing figure on screen, and without anyone to go home to, his character won’t leave. There are several moments over pie when the truth about Paul nearly spills out, especially once one his friend bangs on the front door, peeks his head in, and demands to know if Paul is alright. There’s even a back and forth between the cop and John over how to pronounce Vietnamese, after the cop assumes the family is Chinese. These moments make for an explosive short. You simply never know if the family is going to face arrest at any given moment.

Fitzgerald has completed a few shorts and much editing work. I’d love to see him direct a feature. The Family Circus contains dynamic performances that make for a riveting and nail-biting family drama.

7 Out of 10