Staci Layne Wilson’s Traveling Light review says the new Tony Todd vehicle is a departure from his signature Candyman role but worth a look for those into cerebral dramas.

Actor Tony Todd and director Bernard Rose’s most famous pairing happened decades ago, with the cult favorite horror film, Candyman. Candyman was more than just blood and guts, though—it had something to say about race and poverty. They pair have recently reteamed for Traveling Light, a sparse, experimental drama that is also rife with social commentary.

Set in Los Angeles at the dawn of the Covid-19 pandemic lockdown, Todd plays Caddy, a rideshare driver, who is searching for his missing son. He soon encounters Harry (Danny Huston), a charismatic cult leader (is there any other kind?) who is holding a bizarre ceremony on Mulholland Drive. He also meets acolytes Todd (Stephen Dorff) and Mary (Olivia d’Abo) who can hardly wait to “drink the Kool-Aid” (literally… Harry is serving up hallucinogenic sippy cups). Complicating matters is the rumbling of civil unrest as outrage over the unjust death of George Floyd during his arrest by the Minneapolis Police Department sends shockwaves across the nation.

Rose’s work has run the gamut from the aforementioned horror classic Candyman to the beautiful Beethoven biopic Immortal Beloved, and from the surreal Paperhouse to this shaky-cam cinema verite slice of life. Traveling Light may not appeal to those burnt out from our still-fresh ordeal but if you can get past that, you might find yourself going even further back in time to a movement in filmmaking that harkens to Easy Rider, Psych-Out, and The Trip.

Traveling Light was shot in such a way as to evoke immediacy with handheld equipment, which contributes to the theme of isolation between characters, settings, beliefs, and classes. However, there is obvious thought and care behind every shot and the composition and colors are as artful as any big-budget blockbuster. The music also adds to the sense of tension and the urgency of fleeting time in this 24-hour tale.

If you’re a fan of topical, thought-provoking drama, Traveling Light is definitely worth a watch.

Not Rated
1 Hour 30 minutes

Find out where to stream Traveling Light at Fandango.com.

Staci Layne Wilson’s Traveling Light review says the new Tony Todd vehicle is a departure from his signature Candyman role but worth a look for those into cerebral dramas.