[yasr_overall_rating]
A heartfelt story of an estranged brother and sister who must put aside their differences in order to solve an elaborate treasure hunt, left for them in the will of their eccentric father.
“The Last Treasure Hunt” is a film you probably haven’t heard of, but one that should definitely be on your radar. Upon their father’s sudden death, siblings Oliver (Casey Nelson) and Lucy (Kate Murdoch) must go on a final treasure hunt to find their inheritance. This was a tradition that they grew up with, but as adults are less pleased to go on the journey.
Along the way they are forced to deal with some serious moments in their childhood. Revisiting these memories causes the siblings to pick apart their childhood, and consequently pick apart each other. Thanks to cousin Alfred (Jeff Grace), who tags along, we are treated to a few scenes of levity that help to balance out the heavier moments. Many of the scenes overall felt rockier than others. Most of the clues they find bring about new awakenings, while others feel like a good time to use the restroom.
Written by Casey Nelson and Kate Murdoch, the two leads, the script is well written but at times feels slow and can drag. It rides that line of reveling in the silence and losing the audience. It picks up quickly though after the slower moments to regain its focus, and find its heart. The slower moments too often rely on the music to guide our emotions, being used as a crutch.
While the acting is exceptional, the real star here is the location. Set in the far Northeast, the cloudy skies and dark backdrop set the tone for this drama. Every scene looks like it could be taken as a still and hung on a wall. When the movie is nearing the end all the imperfections seem to matter less, and everything evens out. The gems out weigh any fake coins found in “The Last Treasure Hunt.”
“The Last Treasure Hunt” recently had its World Premiere at the 2015 Dances With Films Festival on May 29th
