Trip Report By A Psychonaut: A Thriller That Blends Fantasy & Ecstasy With Dreamy Visuals

Writer/director Mycle Scheuer’s 18:00-minute Trip Report By A Psychonaut is a ride no one’s prepared for, including the characters. It’s edgy, disorienting and presents itself in a range of kaleidoscopic colours. The intent, one might wonder, is either to vicariously let the audience know of what tripsitting might entail or completely lose themselves in the bargain. Both ways, the outcome is thrilling. Hilarious, very well edited and shot by no less than 4 people (Boris Selemet, Mycle Scheuer, Vanya Atanasova & Toluwa Banjo), the film is an interesting take on an otherwise exploitative narration.

Starring Toluwa Banjo as Ayo and Mycle Scheuer as Conrad, the two friends/weed supplier-&-his-client are cooped up in the latter’s house. And, after presumably a cocktail of drugs already experimented with, our dear Conrad decides to try the newest member to his collection. Ayo is sceptical to join in, but adamant to stick around to fulfill her friendly duties of tripsitting Conrad while he pursues his newly discovered passions. The two are a riot together. There’s an easy chemistry between them and the dialogues are very well written and delivered. The editing, in particular, is good, making the whole short a pleasant watch. The escalating tension, coupled with the background score bring in the necessary tense elements to make this thriller work.

As the time passes, Conrad begins to possibly hallucinate and the actions that follow thereafter are in neither of them’s control. Scheuer’s experimental style pays off. Instead of relying on slapstick humour, the dialogues are filled with sarcasm and wit, and ably delivered to pull off the tension between the duo. Add to that the dreamy visuals, and we are pulled in for a psychedelic ride of sorts, hardly comparable to anything we have seen on this subject. Disorienting, but absorbing, Trip Report By A Psychonaut attempts many things at once–to be a thriller, educational, dark comedy, and it succeeds. Scheuer as Conrad is compelling; there’s an unmistakable vulnerability in his performance that makes the character adorable even if eccentric. And, Banjo is brilliant as Ayo. She brings in the nuanced maturity much needed to counterbalance someone like Conrad. All in all, the duo make the film a complete package!

Watch Trip Report by a Psychonaut Short Film