Ben Tricklebank portrays the perils of toxic masculinity

Created by Emmy-award-winning director Ben Tricklebank of Missing Link Films, this affecting short film explores the effects of toxic masculinity within the context of a strained father-son relationship. 

With beautifully crafted cinematography by Oren Soffer, the film follows what initially appears to be a typically awkward reunion between a distant father and his sulky teenage son.

The characters evolve through short bursts of conversations as they drive through the desert, revealing how bitter and jealous the father is of his son’s affection for his mother’s new partner, and his disapproval of his newfound ambition to become a doctor. 

Subtle hints, such as the boxing bag in his father's garage, the boxing glove keyring he steals from the gas station, and his well-meaning, yet questionable encouragement when they arrive at a boxing club, all seem to point to the obvious explanation that he is encouraging his son to ‘man up’ to compete in a fight. 

However, when the rug is pulled at the very last second, Tricklebank reveals that this is, in fact, a much more sinister coming of age story.