Imaginary Bullets Review

Imaginary Bullets Review

Imaginary Bullets is a short film written and directed by Arizona based filmmaker Sean Oliver.  It is set in a world where toy guns and gun-like hand gestures are just as dangerous as the real things.  The tone of this film felt very much akin to something like Black Mirror, full of satire and social commentary.

The film starts out nice and innocent enough, with two young boys playing with water pistols and then BANG!  Amidst the initial shock, questions are subliminally asked, such as how innocent can playing with toy guns actually be?  How ethical is pretend killing?   

The world starts descending into chaos as people begin to discover that they have firepower at the tips of their fingers.  This can be interpreted as social commentary on US gun laws and the ease of access for firearms, regardless of age or mental health.  Another reading of the film could be that the guns themselves are not hurting anyone, rather the people that would have access to them is doing the damage.  It could also be interpreted as the looming, ever-present danger of these weapons being so near children.

Overall, Imaginary Bullets can be seen as a powerful allegory in favour of stricter gun control laws in the United States and as a commentary on the acceptance of violence in everyday entertainment, with clever camerawork and editing, particularly with certain scene transitions.