Student films can be tricky, because the talent that crafts them often ends up working in opposition to each other. It’s difficult for blossoming, ambitious filmmakers to put egos aside, get on the same page, and deliver something for the common good of the film. However, when it’s done right, the results are remarkably impressive and something that can be appreciated as much as (if not more than) some studio-produced features. Manifest Destiny: A Fates Calling, a short film from Justin Chambers and Crevice Entertainment, is a good example of what I’m talking about.

Clocking in at around 18 minutes, it’s a brief film that packs some heavy concepts into its condensed narrative economy. Set in medieval times, it centers around two brothers being held captive. At the king’s command, they must decide which brother shall die and which shall be set free. It stars Donny Boaz and Carl Silva as the siblings in the midst of this crisis. There are also brief appearances by Jason Lamar as a fellow prisoner and Rocio Burton as a queen.

The performances by Boaz and Silva are spectacular. They bring their emotional intensity to a boiling point yet maintain an elegant poise. Nothing here is over the top or overacted. They play off each other well, and their timing is precise. It’s almost like they’ve done several projects together. The trust in each other is evident onscreen and makes for a scene that requires much investment with only minimal exposition, yet they manage to pull it off. Particularly engaging is Silva. His depiction of the younger Tavish operates on many batteries of emotion–none of which are easy to play–and he executes them all with seasoned craftsmanship. He’s definitely one to watch. Lamar’s brief appearance is also impressive.

Chambers’ direction is on point. This is a heavy-handed scene, and much of the challenge was harnessing the steady performances from his actors. I’d say he managed to do so effectively. There is a bigger story here and maybe too much to pack into just 20 minutes, but aside from a few dialogue and editing hiccups, the film flows well and takes advantage of the time it has, leaving the viewer satisfied and not asking too many questions. It’s strongly reminiscent of The Lord of the Rings Trilogy in terms of tone and style, particularly in the opening sequence. Derek Lotek did an awe-inspiring job here. The production design is simply amazing, possibly the best of any student film I’ve ever seen.

Overall, Manifest Destiny: A Fates Calling is an impressive watch with terrific young talent both in front of and behind the camera. With its solid narrative, great performances, and egoless professionalism, this is one short film that may be worth seeking out and watching over much of the weaker fare currently playing in theaters.

Four out of five stars.