The Brutal Realism of Liquor Bank (2025)

Many people think short movies are substantially easier to make than feature length films. And while there is more creative leeway in short films, you must be able to convey a complete story within a much smaller window. This is the problem that many people struggle with. But the beauty of short films lies in their ability to take one snippet of a larger picture and flesh it out to its fullest. And I should know, since I served as a juror at the 2024 NEXT International Film Festival.

We open to a young man named Eddie (played by Antwone Barnes) who is struggling with alcoholism. After taking a swig from a near-empty Jack Daniels bottle, he’s visited by his Alcohol Anonymous counselor and friend, Baker (played by Sean Alexander James). Baker is worried about Eddie, fearing that he will permanently return to his ways after a year of being sober. The more he tries to talk some sense into Eddie, the more erratic the latter grows. This culminates in Eddie threatening Baker with a knife, should he come any closer.

Marcellus Cox, known for his film Mickey Hardaway, is no stranger to difficult conversations and tough subject matter. And he pulls no punches in his directorial short. Every shot in Liquor Bank is crafted with emotion and precision. It tells a story not just within the film’s narrative, but also what’s happening deep down within Eddie’s emotional state. We see the slightest tremble of his hand while holding the Jack Daniels bottle as he contemplates taking a sip. While this detail might seem invisible, it tells us everything we need to know about his mental dilemma. How he’s trying to fight his growing relapse despite his addiction constantly clawing at him.

Speaking of Eddie and his internal struggle, I was thoroughly impressed by Antwone Barnes’ acting. He perfectly conveys Eddie’s struggle as we see his day-to-day routine after slowly relapsing back into alcoholism. His pained facial expressions and slight crack in his voice all bring an earnest sincerity to the role of Eddie. His dynamic with his co-star Sean Alexander James is done to perfection. We can see just how close the two are and how Baker’s calm and compassionate personality juxtaposes Eddie’s manic depression. The old saying of “you can lead a horse to a fountain, but can’t make it drink” rings especially true in their situation. As much as he tries, Baker can only help so much if Eddie doesn’t make the choice to turn his life around for good. Both actors easily juggle the heavy dialogue while making it feel as natural as possible. In a film, every minute must be fully utilized. This is especially true for a short film. And Marcellus Cox perfectly hits the nail on the head.

I won’t lie, the dialogue does occasionally get preachy, but much less so than what we had in Mickey Hardaway’s third act. However, you never feel like it’s trying to directly convey a message. But rather, you are confronted with a choice: do you fall victim to that downward spiral or do you take the steps to better yourself no matter how hard life knocks you down? It’s a message that should resonate with everyone, regardless if you’re a struggling addict. Not many movies truly address this issue today. Sure, the Rocky films tackled it. But they were sports films about an underdog going the distance before addressing the struggles of the average person’s life. I think more movies can benefit by following Liquor Bank’s themes and message.

Buoyed by strong themes of personal choice, struggle with addiction and powerful performances from its leads, Marcellus Cox has another strong film under his belt. Despite very minor hiccups with its writing, the viscerally realistic performances more than make up for any shortcomings present in the script. And even though it’s only 15 minutes long, you truly feel the weight and emotion behind every minute. This is what I’d consider a near perfect example of a short dramatic film. Do yourself a favor and go check out Liquor Bank!