“Mass” marks Fran Kranz's debut as both screenwriter and director, and it’s a remarkable achievement. The writing is superb, the acting is top-notch, and it delves into themes of grief, guilt, and forgiveness with considerable care. Be prepared—this film will take an emotional toll. The story centers on two couples, Richard (Reed Birney) and Linda (Ann Dowd), and Jay (Jason Isaacs) and Gail (Martha Plimpton), who …

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 e…