– Spoiler Review –
Described as a ghost story with a twist, the team at Cartoon Saloon has done exactly that with Star Wars: Visions Vol. 2’s “Screecher’s Reach,” enduring us quickly to its young characters and leaving us with mouths agape as it closes, leaving you wanting to go back and rewatch it again.
The opening shot of the factory and its child labor should’ve been the first hint of how dark things might turn, but how it represents its young characters and their journey keep the truth from us just long enough for it to hit us like a brick to the face. “Screecher’s Reach” follows Daal (Eva Whittaker) as she seemingly decides, on a whim, to skip work and head out to the creepy place in the woods known as, you guessed it, Screecher’s Reach. She’s joined by Baython (Alex Connolly), Quinn (Noah Rafferty), and Keena (Molly McCann), who don’t want her to go alone and enjoy the thrill of stealing speeders and heading out on a big adventure alongside her. The cramped confines of their work environment gives way to expansive vistas and gorgeous views, making us and the characters feel free and alive. As they near Screecher’s Reach, Daal and crew settle down before the final leg of the journey. It’s in this campfire lit scene where we quickly come endured to this group, as their antics make them feel like a group of kids all viewers have known or were when younger. There’s Quinn’s boisterous personality hiding his fear, Keena who is the voice of doubt but goes along anyways, Baython as the voice of reason and the parent of the group to some extent, while Daal is the leader, the one everyone looks up to, who has a vision for the future. I enjoyed the fun they have before Baython and Daal settle down to chat a little more in depth with one another, but the conversation between the two older kids certainly holds all the keys to this story which are more apparent in hindsight with a second viewing. Like Luke Skywalker and other young heroes before her, Daal dreams of something bigger than their current lives, one of adventure, as she believes anything is better than where they are now. Baython isn’t so sure, but concedes there can be improvements, while he encourages Daal’s dreams regardless, even telling her not to look back if she’s found a way to find the something more she’s always wanted.
When they get to the mouth of the Screecher’s Reach cave, I love how the episode goes back to the confined, cramped feeling of the opening shot, as if to tell us their only freedom was behind them, not in front of them. Daal has been cradling a gold medallion throughout the whole episode, whispering to it for strength before they head in, and she powers ahead, not waiting for her friends. It doesn’t take long before the ghost appears and the kids begin to run away, the screeching from the ghost piercing their ears and bringing rocks down around them, but Daal stays, telling them all to leave and she’ll be right behind them. Whispering to the medallion again, she closes her eyes hoping the rumors were true and this ghost is simply that, but as it nears and ignites a blazing red lightsaber, Daal finally runs, not caring if it’s all in her mind or not. The only way out is a climb, and as she makes her way up and the ghost nears, she again asks the medallion for strength as she reaches for a way out…only for her to pull down a giant rock instead with the Force! With moonlight peeking into the cave, the ghost is revealed to be an old woman, who seems to have gone mad, screeching at Daal as she watches her. Noticing the woman’s lightsaber nearby, she pounces on it before the woman can call it to her, trying to resist how she’s being pulled forward, debating what to do to get out of the situation. Igniting the blade, the episode cuts away as she ends the screeching for good. When she rejoins the others, they are obviously mad at her, realizing she intended to go in there with or without them all along, and she must of had a reason. She speaks again to the medallion and red lights appear from inside and a creepy voice speaks back, telling Daal it’s time they meet.
This is where the episode absolutely wrecks viewers, as we find out Daal has a chance to leave, didn’t tell any of her friends, used them to give her courage on her journey to the cave, and was willing to do anything to gain her freedom, including killing someone. A beautiful ship descends and the Sith Mother (Anjelica Huston) exits it, white robed with blood red armor, and she’s happy Daal passed her test. The others wonder who this is and Daal explains what she was promised, a chance to leave, though she makes a lame, last minute attempt to see if the others can come with her and the Sith Mother delivers a prompt denial, saying she has to make a choice: her freedom or stay with her friends. Tears streaming down her face, the usually jovial Quinn upset, Daal repeats back something Baython told her around the campfire, “Don’t look back….right?” Baython regrets what he told his friend but he proves he’s not as selfish as she is and nods in agreement, helping her make the choice she already did but can now say she didn’t make it alone…even though she did. Leo Pearson’s music has had its moments in the episode, but the way it tugs at your heartstrings and makes Daal’s selfish choice feel even more like a betrayal, to the point it signals a dark future for her, as the episode ends with a hint she might regret her choice as she looks back at her friends before the ship’s door closes. Having made the group so enjoyable together, the final few minutes hit me hard emotionally, as I could feel these friends suffering the consequences of Daal’s choice, the betrayal and the hurt, and it immediately made me want to go back and suffer it again just so I could see all the little hints I might’ve missed about her internal conflict before making her final choice. I watched the first four of Star Wars: Visions Vol. 2 on May 4, and haven’t quite watched more yet, but of these first few it’s the one I’ve thought back on the most, as it’s such a chilling and interesting journey the crew at Cartoon Saloon took us on, inverting the hero’s journey and instead taking us down the villain’s one instead.
I was really wowed by the 2D, hand-drawn look to the animation. The watercolor backgrounds when they start their journey were absolutely arresting, especially in contrast to the confined quarters of the labor camp in the opening. The way they made it truly 2D during the sequence helped convey very quickly the depth of the operation and the oppressive nature of the work, as the flatness made it seem like a place the kids couldn’t ever escape from, though it also made it clear this was all they really knew. The “ghost” in the cave was probably one of the most dazzling parts, as the scratchy, shaky look they gave her was terrifying, making her seem like she was formless and encompassing everything around Daal, once again giving the sense of no escape. The Sith Mother’s ship, kind of flower-like as it opens its wings to land, was a very alien design to everything we’d seen before in “Screecher’s Reach,” highlighting how little this kids know about the galaxy or the nature of the people Daal has gotten mixed in with. The majestic, almost angelic look to the Sith Mother is alluring, making her seem friendly and helpful, which is in stark contrast to the reality of what she’s put Daal through, so I loved how much this option to leave is supposed to look inviting and beautiful and overworldly, as it means there’s an escape ahead, but it’s so different it feels wrong, which is should but Daal goes along anyways.
Here are a few other things:
- Don’t forget, in the Extras section you’ll find a BTS featurette with the team of each short exploring their process for making them. For Cartoon Saloon’s video, I didn’t realize they were based in Kilkenny, so it was neat to the see the city again, as it’s been 5 years since I was traveling through there in an attempt to visit Ahch-To aka Skellig Michael! Learning more about how they hand drew the “ghost” on paper with over 500 different drawings, one of their own did the screams, and how they brought in the myth of the banshee for that particular part of the storyline. Make sure to check it out!!
- Soundtracks for the Visions shorts are on Spotify! There are only two tracks from Leo Pearson but you can relive the gut-punch of an ending whenever you want by listening!
- It was nice to have the core cast allowed to embrace their Irish accents and get “eejit” spoke in a piece of Star Wars, canon or not! Just felt right!
Cartoon Saloon’s “Screecher’s Reach” puts forward the question of what really makes up a happy ending in their beautifully animated and emotionally wrecking short.
+ Daal’s selfish choice brings the tears and makes you want to go back and rewatch
+ Building up these friends to make the final moment hit
+ Way the beautiful hand drawn animation conveys freedom and oppression
Ryan is Mynock Manor’s Head Butler. You can follow him on Twitter @BrushYourTeeth. You can follow the website on Twitter @MynockManor and Instagram @mynockmanor.
STAR WARS VISIONS REVIEWS
Vol. 2: “Sith”
Vol. 1: “The Duel” | “Tatooine Rhapsody” | “The Twins” | “The Village Bride” | “The Ninth Jedi” | “TO-B1” | “The Elder” | “Lop & Ochō” | “Akakiri”
Related Material: Art of Star Wars: Visions Vol. 1 (book) | Star Wars: Visions #1 (comic) | Ronin: A Visions Novel (novel)