Watch Retina

Retina is a low-budget independent thriller movie that was released in 2017. It takes place in Los Angeles and stars Dan J. Johnson as a young photographer named Riley, who is suffering from a recent tragedy that has left him hopeless and shattered. He spends most of his days wandering around the city and taking pictures of whatever catches his eye.

The movie begins with Riley realizing that something strange is going on with the city. He starts to notice that people around him are acting weird, and he keeps seeing strange patterns and symbols everywhere. Soon he discovers that what he thought were just photographers taking pictures at random locations, like him, is actually a sign of something sinister going on. Riley starts to investigate what's going on, eventually discovering a twisted plot that threatens his life.

The first part of the movie is a little slow-paced and somewhat confusing, as it focuses mostly on Riley's character and his struggle to come to terms with the loss of his wife. Through his eyes, we see a Los Angeles that is both mysterious and bleak, and a population that seems to have lost its mind. But as Riley's investigation deepens, the stakes start to become more clear, and the movie turns into a nerve-wracking thriller with several twists that will keep the viewer on the edge of their seat until the very end.

Retina is a dark and gritty movie, with a lot of tension and suspense. The camera work, which is inspired by Riley's love for photography, is one of the highlights of the film. There are many scenes in which the camera zooms in on a small detail, like a leaf or a reflection on a car, or when the picture is purposefully blurred so that we can see the city in a more impressionistic way.

The city itself is also a character in the movie, and the filmmakers did an excellent job with the production design. The Los Angeles depicted in Retina is not the bright and glamorous one that we usually see in movies. Instead, it looks like a run-down, dystopian city, and there are scenes that could remind us of Blade Runner or Dark City.

Dan J. Johnson, who plays Riley, does an adequate job, but his character is not particularly compelling. At times it feels like the character is merely a plot device, to move the story's twisted plot along. The other actors in the movie do a decent job, but with the exception of Juliette, Riley's love interest, none of the characters are particularly likable or memorable.

One of Retina's main strengths is its soundtrack. The moody, electronic score by Tom Player adds a lot to the movie's atmosphere, and there are a few scenes in which the music is so powerful that it is almost hypnotic. The soundtrack is probably one of the best things about the movie.

One of the movie's weaknesses is that it tries to tackle some larger themes related to the nature of the human mind, but it ultimately falls short. The movie's climax, while suspenseful, feels a bit too predictable, and the resolution is a bit too neat and convenient.

Despite its flaws, Retina is an entertaining thriller that is worth checking out, especially for fans of low-budget independent movies. It has a lot of style and atmosphere, and the twists keep the viewer guessing until the end. It is not a perfect movie, but it is definitely worth a watch for anyone in the mood for a dark, suspenseful thriller.