“Scrap” Is Beautifully Relatable

Scrap (Vivian Kerr, 2022) 3½ out of 5 stars

In Scrap, homeless and jobless single-mother Beth (Vivian Kerr, Séance) struggles to keep up appearances to her brother, Ben (Anthony Rapp, Paramount’s Star Trek: Discovery series), and his wife, Stacy (Lana Parrilla, Atlas). The couple are in the midst of a third round of IVF treatment while also caring for Beth’s daughter, Birdy (Julianna Layne, Finding Christmas), as Beth frequently shirks her parental responsibilities. She job hunts, attempts to bond with Birdy, shops on Amazon, dodges phone calls from her loathsome ex, and puts on a thorough act that she still works her high-profile job and nothing is wrong.

Not only does Kerr star in this film, it’s also her feature film debut as both director and writer. Based on her eponymous 2018 short film, Scrap’s visuals are gorgeous and the pacing is rushed, nor does it lag. When it slows, it’s intentional, mirroring the characters’ difficulties. We watch said characters make bad and good decisions, and all are equally understandable. Even when it’s frustrating, we empathize. Occasionally, the visuals almost become distracting with their opulence, from the size and decor of the homes to the luxurious locations, but there’s enough contrast to offset it, particularly when Beth’s car is vandalized and when she and Ben visit the local roller rink. The latter leads Beth to meet Marcus (Khleo Thomas, Paint it Red), a small role, but a delightful surprise every time he appears.

Towards the middle of the film, one might expect some sort of wrench to get thrown in but, while the stakes escalate and consequences ensue, there’s no extreme twist. This keeps the story centered and grounded. Emotional tolls abound in every direction and all face their own individual challenges, while needing to find a balance that suits everyone. Despite the serious subject matter, Scrap manages a light touch, even as it remains appropriately poignant. Despite the all-too-real way these siblings get under each other’s skin, it’s clear that they both deeply care about one another and struggle with how to navigate their circumstances.

Scrap is largely a story in a lot of ways about forgiveness, boundaries, and loving people despite their mistakes. There’s little ground being broken here but the familiar territory is presented extremely well. The moments of sweetness never drift too far into being unrealistically saccharine and offer quiet moments of brilliance and moving performances.

Robin C. Farrell

Robin C. Farrell is a video editor, videographer, author, podcaster, and nerd. She has earned editing and writing awards from the Tellys, TIVA-DC Peer Awards, and film festivals, self-published her first book, Resistance Rising, and is an editor and writer for Star Wipe Films, annually participating in film race competitions. When she’s not working, you can find Robin playing D&D, exploring coffee shops, or dreaming up new projects.