APE

US · 20 min

• Crime
• Short

Directed by: Millicent Cho, Benjamin Ting

Written by: Benjamin Ting

Tortured by past trauma, JJ has visions of a dark basement where extreme violence occurs. He sees forearms pressing into carotid arteries, blood on teeth, shins wrapping around bone, whipping slaps of skin on skin. More notably, the slanted eyes of Asian boys. Along with Tommy (23) who leads him into the depths of the city, JJ repeatedly finds himself in hostile encounters with drunk white men - at a diner, a bar, and then a party. Tommy, sharp, witty, and brutish, isn't afraid to resort to violence or humiliation, while JJ remains frozen, powerless to react. By the end of the night, JJ is left alone to confront his past or risk letting Tommy, who is revealed as the leader of the violent cult haunting JJ's visions, bury them both in a cycle of retribution.