Manic Behavior

Someone always seems to be acting a little manic. These films, each in their own way, depict the hysterical breakdowns and psychological pitfalls that their characters experience. Someone always seems to be HAVING AN EPISODE. Films from NoBudge Collection #007.

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  • People Person
    Movie + 1 extra

    People Person

    Movie + 1 extra

    A lonely chatterbox, fed up with the anti-social nature of the world, seeks to find himself a friend at all costs. Set in sunny Los Angeles, “People Person,” directed by Taylor Thompson, is an upbeat character study looking at social connections and interpersonal expectations. Immensely desperate...

  • Steakhouse

    When a conspiracy theorist’s internet goes out, he calls the cable company to fix the problem. Ft Langley directs “Steakhouse,” a bizarre sci-fi-inspired comedy where one man’s delusions lead to some questionable reactions toward his sudden visitor. Our main character wakes up at his desk; it see...

  • WILK
    Movie + 1 extra

    WILK

    Movie + 1 extra

    A woman and her ex-boyfriend reconnect at the vet after their dog gets sick, as a new boyfriend experiences jealousy. “WILK,” directed by Peg, is an experimental comedy with its own absurd cinematic language and esoteric scene-building. Joseph watches from the car as his girlfriend, Tallie, is co...

  • xx_luv.kitten_xx
    Movie + 1 extra

    xx_luv.kitten_xx

    Movie + 1 extra

    Hustling up quick cash and alienating her loved ones, a struggling Twitch streamer stops at nothing to make it to an influencer meetup at Buffalo Wild Wings. Bobby McCoy directs “xX_luv.kitten_Xx,” an uncomfortably current character study that captures a type of youthful desperation that amalgam...

  • Empath

    Afflicted by a mysterious case of hyper-empathy, a young woman stumbles across a group that claims to treat the disorder. “Empath,” directed by Alec Moeller, is an engrossing character study lifted by a powerhouse performance by Betsey Brown. Moving through everyday life is a minefield of emotion...

  • The Length of Your Rage

    After an angry fight with his boyfriend, Thomas walks across Manhattan to cool off. Juan Pablo Rivera Garza & Charlie Sosnick direct “The Length of Your Rage,” a charmingly ragged comedy oozing with strange encounters between NYC oddballs. So says an Inuit tradition about anger, the length of one...

  • Next Stop
    Movie + 1 extra

    Next Stop

    Movie + 1 extra

    A woman turning 30 returns home dejected from life not living up to expectations. Chanel Dupree directs “Next Stop,” a surrealistic dark comedy that renders a dream-like quality in its melange of annoyances. She repeats affirmations to herself (“my destiny is bright and full”) while she avoids te...

  • Ratking

    Another lazy day in Los Angeles is undermined by strange occurrences. Eric Colonna directs “Ratking,” an enigmatic drama that observes a young couple in North East L.A. as they deal with an odd visitor. Under a greenish tungsten hue, we meet the woman as she recalls a disturbing dream. Later, a d...

  • Monster

    A stay-at-home mom experiences an unexpected upheaval during her daily routine. This Super 16mm short is about the other side of motherhood, beyond the joys. Directed by Jake Kolton. Written by Jake Kolton, Audrey Findlay. Starring Mascha Mareen.

  • Close the Gap

    During the 2020 BLM protests, a white protester loses his head trying to corral a group of fellow demonstrators. Alex Bliss directs “Close the Gap,” a satirical character study that boldly examines the loose ends of a young man’s mind amidst a high-tense moment. As he marches, he broadcasts live ...

  • Yamashiro Live!

    A young man cycles through a series of personas in a manic attempt to find himself. “Yamashiro LIVE!”, directed by Blake James Reid and Max Frumkin, is a fever dream odyssey carved from pure provocation, a melting-down outsider vision of an ineffectual shape-shifter. The man floods each of his un...

  • Medical Drama

    A struggling actor abandons all logic when she finds a stranger unconscious in her laundry room. Sophie Jarvis directs “Medical Drama,” a character study at turns surreal and darkly funny about a young woman going through a rough couple of days. Doing whatever she can for work, she finds herself ...

  • Hernia

     Rudy, a grouchy, putty-colored naif rocking a Mennonite center-part, is thrown off of his normal afternoon routine of shuffling around looking glum by an intense pain in his groin. According to a not-very-trustworthy looking dude outside the bodega, it’s a hernia. Instead of wisely staying home ...

  • Tommy John

    A baseball player’s press conference about a season ending injury devolves into an existential breakdown. “Tommy John,” directed by Alex Goldberg, is a darkly comedic ride through the fractured psyche of a baseball star. What begins as your average sports press conference hits a tailspin when Jos...

  • How to Re-Caulk your Tub

    A woman attempts to re-caulk her bathtub. “How to Re-Caulk Your Tub,” directed by Sean Pierce, is a parody of a YouTube tutorial which begins as a straight-forward instructional video and devolves into an existential freak out. The woman, played by Alex Moorman, sets out to refresh her temple of ...

  • Moving

    The act of transporting an old mattress into a new walk-up apartment becomes absurdist one-woman choreography in this wordless vignette. Directed by Adinah Dancyger. Starring Hannah Gross.

  • Little Boy Maniac
    Movie + 4 extras

    Little Boy Maniac

    Movie + 4 extras

    After being dumped under the Manhattan bridge in a cardboard box, a lost and bewildered man tries to get home to Long Island. A frenetic extravaganza of anything-goes street cinema, “Little Boy Maniac,” directed by David Cardoza, crams what could have been a feature-length film into thirty minute...

  • Prairie Girls
    Movie + 1 extra

    Prairie Girls

    Movie + 1 extra

    Awakening in a field far from home, two sisters embark on a magical and bizarre adventure through the pastoral Midwest. “Prairie Girls,” directed by Benett Holgerson, is a lighthearted romp through past and present detailed with antiquated costumes and props, and colorful animation sequences. Aft...