Heatwaves, Heartache, and a Hint of Wonder

MOVIE REVIEW
Star People
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Genre: Drama, Sci-Fi, Thriller
Year Released: 2025
Runtime: 1h 44m
Director(s): Adam Finberg
Writer(s): Adam Finberg
Cast: Kat Cunning, McCabe Slye, Connor Paolo, Eddie Martinez, Bradley Fisher, Adriana Aluna Martinez, Chris Altice, Bourke Floyd
Where to Watch: hitting theaters July 25, 2025, and VOD August 12, shown at Dances with Films 2025

RAVING REVIEW: Curiosity, longing, and memory collide in this eerie, slow-burning drama that sidesteps the typical playbook for science fiction. Rather than spotlighting spaceships or elaborate mythology, the film roots itself in one woman’s obsessive desire to connect the past to the present, chasing not closure, but something closer to clarity. With an understated tone and a sharp focus on human behavior, this is less about what might be in the sky and more about what’s left unresolved here on Earth. I found it genuinely hypnotic; the multiple subplots somehow work in unison in a way I wasn’t expecting.

At the center is Claire, a photographer still haunted by an unexplained childhood event tied to a massive real-world UFO sighting. She’s convinced the answer to everything she’s feeling is somewhere—maybe in the desert or the stars. Kat Cunning captures that drive with control and vulnerability, never tipping into melodrama. Claire is not your typical UFO seeker; she’s thoughtful, observant, and operating under a mix of wonder and weariness. Her obsession isn’t rooted in paranoia, but in something much more relatable: the desire to make sense of a personal mystery that shaped her worldview.

Her brother Taylor, played by McCabe Slye, accompanies her on this heat-soaked mission, and their dynamic is where much of the emotion lies. He’s not just a sidekick—he’s a mirror, reflecting the baggage they both carry but refuse to unpack. Their interactions—tense, clipped, and occasionally compassionate—speak volumes even when little is said. This is one of those films where glances and silences tell the real story.

The desert, both visually and thematically, acts like a pressure cooker. It’s unforgiving and wide open, yet every scene feels focused. There’s a sharp eye behind the camera that treats the landscape as more than just a location—it becomes a psychological terrain. The washed-out palette, the endless stretches of road, and the ever-present sun all work to isolate the characters as much as the narrative itself does. The film makes it a reflection of Claire’s state of mind: parched, restless, and in search of something real.

Dialogue often leans into realism—characters talk over each other, leave thoughts unfinished, and avoid the emotional speeches you might expect in more genre fare. That approach works well. The moments where characters begin to explain the history behind the sky event feel like detours from an otherwise internal journey. There’s power in ambiguity, and the film sometimes forgets how well it already uses it elsewhere.

The pacing will be divisive. This isn’t a film in a hurry; that’s to its credit for the most part. Letting scenes breathe allows the characters’ mental and emotional states to connect. That said, some moments linger past their expiration. A few trimming decisions—maybe a tighter edit on one or two scenes—could sharpen the experience without losing the film’s reflective quality.

It leans into the discomfort of not knowing and doesn’t flinch. Claire’s search ends with a deeper understanding of what she’s been searching for. That might frustrate viewers expecting big reveals, but it’ll feel like a breath of fresh air for others. It’s rare for a genre-adjacent story to have the nerve to stay this grounded.

The film is also an impressive first-time effort from writer/director Adam Finberg, who knows how to pull from personal experience and use restraint as a tool, not a limitation. The director doesn't sensationalize Claire’s struggle. Instead, he frames it as something subtle and aching, and lets that speak for itself.

Even when the movie struggles, its intentions feel honest. It knows what it’s about and stays on message. If you’re willing to adjust and meet your expectations on its terms, there’s so much to appreciate. It’s not here to deliver answers. It’s here to ask why we need them in the first place. This one’s not a spectacle. It’s a question, quietly asked, and left open for interpretation. Viewers looking for explosions, CGI, or nicely wrapped up resolutions won’t find them. But those drawn to introspective stories that sit with uncertainty and explore how memory and mystery shape us might discover something they didn’t know they were looking for.

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[photo courtesy of BLUE HARBOR ENTERTAINMENT]

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