If this last year has taught us anything, it is that we should appreciate those in the medical field just a bit more. The uncertainty of COVID-19 has prompted more fears than certainties. For those of you who work in the medical field, thank you from the bottom of my heart. Thank you for the many sleepless nights, long shifts, and sacrifices that you have made to ensure the world keeps spinning. There have been many videos this past year of doctors and nurses, among other medical professionals, social distancing themselves from their own children to ensure safety. That’s a huge sacrifice that some of us glossed over in the midst of our own fears and concerns. Because of that, this is not the kind of film that will be hard hitting like The Good Doctor or Grey’s Anatomy.
Given the themes of 12 Hour Shift, this film could serve as a welcome laugh for those of you who are in the medical field. Once again, thank you for your sacrifices. 12 Hour Shift, while a comedy at its core, does explore some of the crazier things that medical professionals go through. Shift explores the seedy side business of Mandy (Angela Bettis) selling organs on the black market. Unfortunately, the courier (Chloe Farnworth) loses one of the organs and the clock is ticking to find a new one as the two navigate around a tornado of bad luck plaguing Mandy’s hospital. Shift is an interesting movie to describe in terms of comedy. It’s home to a little bit of everything. Bettis has a very dry humor, whereas Farnworth embraces the dumb blonde clichés.
We’ve seen that type of humor with many characters but Farnworth feels a bit more refreshing than other dumb blonde archetypes we’ve seen over the years. It’s almost as if she doesn’t think within the moment. Yet, simultaneously she is methodical. Farnworth results in familiar archetypes yet remains surprisingly complex. That’s one of the more surprising things about the film. There is no main character that comes across on one note. They all are complex. Bettis is equally as complex and heartbreaking. At surface level, she comes across as just a flat and sometimes miserable character. As the film progresses she evolves into an oddly sympathetic character. It brings a great deal of depth to the film. Bettis walks that thin line between dry humor and sympathy with ease. She delivers the stand out performance of the film.
Farnworth is another contender for stand out as well. Yes, she plays the stereotypical dumb blonde archetype. However it’s her unpredictability that makes her one of the film’s strongest assets. I would even dare compare her performance to Margot Robbie’s portrayal of Harley Quinn within the DCEU. For as strong of a performance she delivers, she ironically is also one of the film’s strongest misfires as well. Her character has a few bizarre sequences where the camera enters into slow motion. The weird thing about these sequences is how they’re accompanied by Beethoven-styled symphony music. This creative choice clashes with the tone overall. They’re oddly placed and bring nothing to the larger narrative.
Co-star David Arquette feels equally out of place. Arquette plays an imprisoned murder who gets rushed to the hospital after attempting suicide. He just randomly pops up from time to time, coming across as nothing more than an unnecessary secondary villain. It’s an odd narrative choice that I will admit does pay off in the long run. If anything it robs the viewer of the brilliant performances going on around Arquette - performances like one of the unsung heroes of the movie in Nikea Gamby-Turner. Turner plays the head nurse at the center of all of the chaos. Her reactions and quips are incredible.
Overall, 12 Hour Shift is an immense delight on all fronts. The characters, the chemistry, and the narrative are all delightful. I found myself on the verge of tears several times. The film does have some awkward transitions between scenes at times. For some odd reason the director felt the need to slow everything down and overdub the sound with symphonic music. It’s a huge clash with the overall tone of the film. On no level does it work. There are some characters within the film who do the same exact thing. Despite this, 12 Hour Shift clocks in with terrific performances and a well-written script to make this nothing shy of a bloody good time.
RORSCHACH RATING:
Mental Health Moment: One of the more comical characters within the film actually has perhaps the most enlightening moment of the entire film. Karen, played by Nikea Gamby-Turner, oversees the nurses of the floor with whom we spend the most amount of time. She is also the head of the operation with the black market organs, ironically. She has some of the best comedic moments throughout the entire film. However, in a scene with her and Bettis, the two are discussing a colleague. Bettis says something about the women being crazy, to which Turner responds by telling Bettis to never underestimate the importance of mental health. Take it seriously.
For a film as crazy as 12 Hour Shift to acknowledge this profound moment says a great deal. What are you doing to ensure the welfare of your mental health? What practices or people are you surrounding yourself with to take your mental health seriously? We go to the doctor when we’re physically ill, what is stopping us from taking the same approach with our mental health? Mental health is something to take seriously. What you do today with it has an impact for tomorrow.
If you or someone you know is reading this right now and struggling with suicide, depression, addiction, or self-harm - please reach out. Comment, message, or tweet at us. Go to victimsandvillains.net/hope for more resources. Call the suicide lifeline at 1-800-273-8255. Text "HELP" to 741-741. There is hope & you DO have so much value and worth!
Victims and Villains is written (and produced) by Josh "Captain Nostalgia" Burkey and others, and edited by Cam Smith. Music by Mallory Johnson and others. 12 Hour Shift is property of Magnolia Pictures. We do not own nor claim any rights.
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