I’m not sure why I waited, but I didn’t see Mass when it premiered at Sundance. Instead, I saved it for on-demand viewing the next day. After finishing Wild Indian—which I had mixed feelings about—I realized I'd made a mistake. It’s one of the most intense, suffocating, and emotionally overwhelming films I’ve ever experienced. This review was meant to be published almost a full day ago, but I needed time to process everything and get some sleep. It’s even more impressive considering this is Fran Kranz's first feature film; he's established himself as a filmmaker who deserves my complete attention from now on. His remarkable direction guides the audience through a narrative presented in such a raw and genuine way that even a simple room with chairs and a table can hold you captive for the entire movie. From a technical standpoint, I have to commend Kranz’s visual storytelling; it conveys meaning through the actors' movements and the placement of set pieces during each scene. Details like the carefully arranged flowers and tissues, as well as the palpable discomfort radiating from the parents, all contribute to an atmosphere that left me emotionally drained, feeling as if everything had been taken from inside me. This leads me to what is probably one of the most powerful and heartbreaking performances I’ve ever witnessed in a single film. Each actor embodies their character with such generosity and passion that I'm certain filming this movie was just as difficult for them as it was for viewers to watch. Jason Isaacs, Ann Dowd, Martha Plimpton, and Reed Birney all deserve award nominations across the board. It’s hard to pick a single standout performance because they are all truly exceptional. They seem so completely invested in portraying their characters' struggles that I couldn't stop crying after almost every line of dialogue. Everyone has at least one significant moment to shine, and each actor delivers it in a way that is absolutely stunning. However, Mass isn’t solely an acting showcase. It brings up several sensitive topics—literally—like gun violence and the effects of video games on young people, but also tackles difficult emotions: forgiveness, love, moving forward, grief/loss, anger, guilt, depression, among others. It's a film that will undoubtedly affect every viewer, even if it’s in a negative way. As much as I loved everything I saw onscreen, it’s not something I envision watching again anytime soon, perhaps only once or twice. While the ending is predictably hopeful, it might be too emotionally taxing for me right now. Mass was certainly one of the most challenging experiences I've ever had while watching a movie. Fran Kranz’s directorial debut tells an incredibly heavy story through four actors who deeply immerse themselves in their roles, all delivering career-best performances. Every member of the cast is remarkable: Jason Isaacs, Ann Dowd, Martha Plimpton, and Reed Birney deserve significant support to win every acting award possible. The performers extract every last drop of emotion from the audience, transforming a small room with impactful visual storytelling into an intensely tense, heartbreaking, almost unbreathable setting. Numerous important issues and difficult feelings are explored in just under two hours, creating a truly devastating film that left me crying. It’s virtually impossible for someone to remain unaffected by this movie, even if their reaction is negative. It's one of those films I will recommend to everyone and support throughout its release, but I have to admit this may be my only viewing of such a brutally honest and demanding story. Rating: A

Source on TMDB