Chestnut (2023) – Review and Summary

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General Information

Director(s)	Jac Cron
Screenplay By	Jac Cron
Based On	N/A
Date Released (Film Festival – Newfest)	October 12, 2023
Genre(s)	Drama Romance Young Adult LGBT+
Film Length	1 Hour 27 Minutes
Content Rating	Not Rated
Noted Characters and Cast
Annie	Natalia Dyer
Tyler	Rachel Keller
Danny	Danny Ramirez

Content Rating Explanation

“Chestnut” contains:

• Dialog: Cursing
• Violence: N/A
• Sexual Content: Implied nudity (shower scene)
• Miscellaneous: Drug use, smoking, drinking

Film Summary

This content contains pertinent spoilers. Also, images and text in this post may contain affiliate links. If a purchase is made from those sites, we may earn money or products from the company.

Annie, an East Coast native who, after her mom died in High School, has been a bit on autopilot, is finally ready to get the reins back on her life. She wants to be a writer, not work in finance, even though her father would love for her to work and live close by, and a part of her doesn’t want to abandon him.

However, what she has a degree in and what she is passionate about don’t coincide, and with the desire to move to Los Angeles, she is weighing her options. What is tipping the scale is meeting Tyler and Danny. Tyler, a woman, is emotionally unavailable, but when she is engaged, she sets Annie’s soul on fire. As for Danny? He is emotionally engaged but appears to be a placeholder for Tyler.

What complicates things is that this love triangle doesn’t have Annie in the middle but part of a slightly chaotic cycle of who is coupling with who. Thus leaving Annie to question whether it is worth seeing how this plays out or should she just appreciate the make-out session and moments she did enjoy, use it for her poetry, and bounce?

Character Descriptions

Please Note: This character guide is not an exhaustive list of every cast member, and character descriptions may contain what can be considered spoilers.

Annie

After losing her mother in high school, Annie became understandably close to her dad and has long put off her desire to leave the East Coast for his sakes. However, after being on autopilot for a while and finishing school, majoring in finance, Annie seeks to take back control of her life and set aside her father’s feelings for what would make her happy.

• The actor is also known for their role in “Yes, God, Yes,” their role in “All Fun and Games,” and their role in “Stranger Things.”

Tyler

Tyler is the person who puts Annie in this awkward space where she finds herself a potential pawn made because Tyler can’t have who she wants.

• The actor is also known for their role in “A Man Called Otto,” their role in “Legion,” and their role in “In The Shadow Of The Moon.”

Danny

Like Tyler, Danny is just working on figuring out their next move and enjoying their time with Annie, despite her being ahead of them in making a decision.

• The actor is also known for their role in “No Exit,” their role in “Look Both Ways,” and their role in “On My Block.”

Review

Our Rating: Mixed (Divisive)

On The Fence

Intimacy In Vulnerability, But Lack Of Chemistry

With both Danny and Tyler, we see Annie open up about her mom, her relationship with her dad, and even her poetry. In return, Danny talks about his relationship with his father and Tyler about being uncomfortable with her name since it is so boyish, on top of her features. It’s a lot of information that conveys intimacy, vulnerability, and seeking to connection with another human being.

However, despite the effort for connection, there is a lack of chemistry between the actors, making this all feel uncomfortable and for naught. Yes, the characters talk and have conversations, kiss even, but the actors don’t click, you don’t find yourself swooning or wanting Annie to be with this person or that person. Heck, even if you are pro-Annie moving to follow her dreams, like me, you don’t even think about her keeping in touch with either of these people.

They are dalliances, one of which who has communication issues, and there is nothing worse than a film with a love triangle that doesn’t pull you in any direction beyond the lead character moving on.

Who Is This For?

Fans of the actors who want to watch them in something without a fantasy or supernatural element.

Recommendations

If you like this movie, we recommend:

1. Passages: A bit more serious of a love triangle, with the LGBTQ+ focus being a man torn between their husband and a woman.
2. Love: While not an LGBTQ+ film, it also features a couple that open their relationship and introduce a third person who complicates things
3. Threesomething: Probably the closest film to “Chestnut” in terms of the age of characters, but it also holds some of the frustrations you may have with “Chestnut” or what you may have liked about the film.

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