Del Playa is a drama-thriller from 2017, directed by Shaun Hart. The movie takes place in Santa Barbara, California and follows the story of a high school senior named Matthew (played by Devon Barnes) who is struggling to cope with the grief he feels after witnessing the tragic death of his girlfriend. As he tries to navigate his way through the aftermath of this painful event, he becomes increasingly isolated and withdrawn.
Matthew's life starts to spiral out of control when he begins to have vivid hallucinations about his deceased girlfriend. These hallucinations start to take over his life, and he begins to lose touch with reality. Matthew's parents become increasingly concerned about his behavior and decide to send him to a therapist, which only seems to make things worse.
At school, Matthew becomes a target for bullying by a group of popular students, who mock him and make fun of him for his perceived weakness. He quickly becomes an outcast amongst his peers and has no one to turn to for help. As the bullying continues to escalate, Matthew's mental state deteriorates even further, and he becomes more and more unstable.
Things come to a head when Matthew is invited to a party at a house on Del Playa Drive. Initially, he is hesitant to attend, but decides to go anyway in the hope of fitting in and making some friends. Once he arrives at the party, he quickly realizes that he doesn't belong there and tries to leave. But it's too late. The group of bullies who have been tormenting him all year are at the party, and they have other plans for him.
Del Playa is a raw and emotional movie that explores the difficult issues of grief, mental illness, and bullying. The film stands out for its powerful depiction of the struggle that young people face when dealing with these issues. It is a sobering reminder that mental health is just as important as physical health and that we need to take the time to care for ourselves and others.
The acting in the film is superb, especially from Devon Barnes who brings a quiet intensity to the role of Matthew. His performance is both heartbreaking and riveting, and the audience can't help but feel invested in his character's journey. The supporting cast is equally impressive, with some standout performances from Brett Johnson and Andrew Dits as the antagonists.
The cinematography in Del Playa is stunning, capturing the beauty of Santa Barbara while also highlighting the darkness that lurks just beneath the surface. The movie's score also deserves a mention, with its haunting melodies adding an extra layer of emotional depth to the film.
Overall, Del Playa is a must-see movie for anyone who cares about mental health awareness and the effects of bullying. It is a powerful and challenging film that will leave a lasting impact on its viewers. The movie's message is clear: we all have a role to play in supporting those around us, and we need to do better at looking out for one another. Del Playa is a cinematic masterpiece that will linger in the mind long after the credits roll.
Del Playa is a 2017 thriller with a runtime of 1 hour and 41 minutes.
It has received mostly poor reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 3.8.
