Watch Dead Slow Ahead

Dead Slow Ahead is a Spanish experimental feature film directed and written by Mauro Herce. It premiered at the International Film Festival Rotterdam in January 2015 and later screened at various other film festivals across the world. The movie is a hypnotic and surreal voyage that takes the viewer on a journey unlike any other. The film is shot entirely onboard a massive cargo ship, sailing through the open sea. The scenes are meticulously crafted to capture the eerie atmosphere of the vessel, with its narrow corridors, dimly lit hallways, and giant cargo holds. The lack of dialogue or narration forces the viewer to rely solely on the visual cues to decipher the meaning behind everything happening.

The film opens with a black screen and the sound of silence that gradually fades into the sound of machinery running. We are then introduced to the ship's crew, who are shown undertaking their daily routines such as cleaning the deck, checking equipment, and cooking meals in the tiny galley. As the journey of the ship progresses, the camera follows the slow and methodical movements of the crew members, punctuated by the rhythmic machinery sounds.

As the days on the ship begin to pile up, the voyage becomes more and more surreal. The viewer is transported into a trance-like state as scenes of machinery, pipes, and worn-out surfaces blend together in an almost hallucinatory fashion. Occasionally, the monotony of the ship's interior is broken by moments of visual poetry, where the camera captures the vastness of the open sea or the breathtaking beauty of a sunset.

Dead Slow Ahead is not an easy film to watch. It demands a lot of patience and attention from the viewer, as there are no traditional characters, plot or story arc. It is a purely sensory experience, designed to evoke a sense of unease and disorientation in the viewer. Each shot is meticulously composed, arranged, and lit to create an otherworldly atmosphere. Some scenes are accompanied by a haunting electronic score that heightens the sense of dread and tension.

One might wonder about the significance of the title as it speaks volumes about the pace of the movie. ‘Dead Slow Ahead’ is a term used by sailors when navigating through treacherous waters or in low visibility. It means that the vessel must move at its slowest pace, and everyone on board has to stay alert to avoid potential danger. In the context of the movie, the title gives the impression that the crew members are on a journey that is taking them into a dangerous and unknown territory.

Overall, Dead Slow Ahead is a mesmerizing mediation on dreams, isolation, and the mysteries of the sea. It is an experimental film that defies all conventions of narrative cinema and instead opts for a poetic and sensory approach to filmmaking. The movie can be demanding, but it rewards the viewer who is patient and attentive with a unique and unforgettable experience. It is an excellent example of how a movie can be used to create a sense of journey not just for the makers but for the viewers as well.