Staci Layne Wilson’s Who’s Watching Who review says it’s a charming short with more going on beneath the surface.

Who’s Watching Who is a short film that’s been sweeping the film festival circuit (with an eye toward streaming platforms), and winning the hearts of viewers everywhere. It’s not easy to make an impact in less than 10 minutes, but Who’s Watching Who does that—in just six-and-a-half minutes.

Chris Levine, who wrote, directed, edited, and stars in the simple but effective comedy, plays opposite 10-year-old newcomer Alex Lizzul, who makes his debut here. Who’s Watching Who is mainly a two-hander, but there is a brief appearance by an uncredited actor as the boy’s mom.

The film opens with young Trevor making breakfast one morning, and doing everything flawlessly, which is meant to indicate that he’s been self-sufficient for years. Once the marvelous presentation is plated, his mom breezes through, dressed for work and obviously in a hurry. She says she has no time for breakfast, and in fact, has to take off for the weekend. Not to worry, though; her brother, Nick, will soon be there to babysit.

As it turns out, down-and-out Nick is the one in need of a babysitter… and a therapist. Although the boy and his uncle barely know each other, they quickly bond and several beers later (Nick’s, not Trevor’s) a dark and stunning confession is made. Here’s where things take a turn and we see that while Who’s Watching Who is a comedy, it’s not light and it’s not a kid’s movie.

To say much more would be a disservice to those who haven’t seen Who’s Watching Who yet but it should be noted that the production is top-notch. The music, cinematography, and setting are as good as any feature in this budget bracket. The acting is strong but there’s not a lot of deep-delving into the characters’ emotions—at its heart, this is a short comedy and meant to make you feel good by the time the end credits roll.

Not Rated
6 minutes, 30 seconds

Who’s Watching Who is currently playing nationwide on the film festival circuit.

Staci Layne Wilson’s Who’s Watching Who review says it’s a charming short with more going on beneath the surface.