With the conclusion of The Chicago Underground Film Festival, I felt many of the film experiences required a lot of tolerance tohandle. The invigorating part of this phenomenon is that filmmakers are putting their art to the test. I felt that many of the films went in-depth into worlds that are unknown. Specifically, I mean there were films that explore addiction, politics, and various challenging subject matter. The film that haunted me the most is You Can’t Stay Here, a film in which a mistake made in the wrong setting takes a turn for the worse.

You Can’t Stay Here is directed by Todd Verow. The film’s opening delivers that noir feeling which sends shivers down its audience spine. It is a film that takes place in the 1990s around New York City. The vibe during that time period on the east coast provides a setting of realistic suspense that only grows more haunting. You Can’t Stay Here feels eerie based on the perception of how the mind feels when anxiety is provoked. It is also a film in which safety is questioned sporadically throughout due to experimental filmmaking and writing.

The plot of the film is geared on a photographer, Rick (played by Guillermo Diaz). He strolls through New York’s Central Park focused on his photography. Rick’s whole world is turned upside down when he is the witness of a homicide situation. The murderer is Adam (played by Justin Ivan Brown) and he puts Rick into a life-threatening scenario. Adam has feelings for Rick and Rick has feelings for Adam. With their eerie bond, Rick’s situation can threaten his life if he reveals evidence to the authorities about Adam. Because Rick tends to be a man of solitude already, there is a feeling of intense loneliness that only causes his desire to grow throughout You Can’t Stay Here.

The film is an experience of anxiety which is built upon the audience’s increasing concerns about Rick. His thoughts and Adam’s presence continuously haunts him. Adam also shows up into Rick’s dreams. It is a bizarre experience and has dazzling sensations. The realism of the dangers impacting Rick’s life arewhat causes ongoing anxiety and suspense during You Can’t Stay Here.

There is a line in the film that goes, “Lose yourself in my eyes.” Rick is in a place where he is completely beside himself. Adam is always in his head and on his mind. The horrific event where Rick chose not to do anything only opens the door to his reality being altered. The state of mind throughout You Can’t Stay Hereis a continuous blur of emotions. It is a ride which starts with aneerie event that simply does not leave Rick or the film’s audience. You Can’t Stay Here is an experience that is unforgettable, but hard to revisit. You Can’t Stay Here is a film that requires an open mind. Three stars for You Can’t Stay Here.