Plot description: “An engaged Hollywood agent receives a mysterious letter for an anonymous sexual encounter and becomes ensnared in a sinister world of lying, infidelity, and digital data.”
Social Media can be a monster. The entertainment industry is one of the most legendary horror icons that no one talks about. Mix the two together and you have an invitation to a cult classic worthy plot, depending on if you RSVP or not.
The Beta Test, written and directed by Jim Cummings and PJ McCabe, is an invite into the realistic, yet terrifying, current world we’re living in. What if a potential cheating invitation in your significant other’s DMs was an actual letter in their mailbox? That’s the plot line of this thriller. Imagine, if you will, that the person you love is met with the opportunity to RSVP to a no strings attached hotel room encounter and you’re not invited. What would ensue? What if that letter was addressed to you with the same option?
Jim Cummings plays Jordan, a fast talking, ulcer ridden, agent clawing his way through Hollywood to find large amounts of money at the end of that potential client rainbow. He’s chasing that thrill of the deal and of course that lifestyle of money and power comes with its side glances towards vices you don’t need virtues for. His fiancé loves him, he’s getting married in a few weeks, it’s the perfect American Gothic Hollywood. But suddenly he’s met with a decision. He gets a letter inviting him to a one time sexual encounter, a laundry list of what could be done to him and for him, presented alongside the invite like a wedding option menu of chicken or fish. All he has to do is send the letter back with his menu selections and his plus one, one night stand, will meet him in a hotel room a few days later. Once Jordan decides to RSVP he finds that sometimes getting what you think you want isn’t all that you wanted it to be.
Being close to the industry, I feel there is something niche about this film. I’ve met Jordan. I’ve encountered this lifestyle of, “there could be something better around the corner” in my ex-significant other’s hidden folder. The Beta Test puts that harsh reality we’ve all experienced onto film. Is there better? What if? What if I could have all this and this? Questions we are met with every day while scrolling through social media are at the forefront of the film. Try being in a relationship nowadays where you have a fight and you can have someone else in your text messages within the hour, swipe right, swipe left on your future.
The Beta Test is, at its core, a horror because the truth it presents is horrifying. It made me get goosebumps and mumble, “been there” several times. The plot line dissects a person with the scalpel of social media. And let me tell you, it hit some bloody good notes. Jim Cummings serves up a wickedly awkward, yet accurate, portrayal of that cliché Hollywood talent agent. His whip smart dialogue seemingly cut out from things I’ve heard through games of industry telephone. He even pulls the “do you know who I work for” trick I’ve heard used to get reservations in front of me. Jim’s descent into the madness had me laughing aloud at those very niché, blink and you’ll miss it, jokes that came out of his mouth at speeds you could get a ticket for. I couldn’t help but love the strings his character tried to pull throughout the film while also being a puppet himself.
The real question is if you’re presented with a night where you can get what you want and it seems like you can keep it a secret would you do it? It’s a scary thought, but one that can be answered with an app download. It’s the real question that exists on our phones every day. What if you sent that message? What if you RSVP? You can put that to the beta test yourself I guess.
My Final thoughts?
As the credits rolled I was left with some questions at the end of the film. There were some missed notes I couldn’t seem to find cliffs on. But in the end I was uncomfortably aware of what The Beta Test presented to me. The concept of “ yeah, but there could be better” exists and yes, it can kill you. Love is grand, but when you have the option of sex, or power, or even money sometimes love can’t conquer it all.