Side Effects

Running time: N/A

Every year, Cinequest presents a new batch of twists and misdirections called Mindbenders, short films that drag you kicking and screaming to a destination you may not expect, may not want to be, and may even leave you wondering just where you have been. Just be careful what you wish for and who you ask. This year's program includes many delusional tales, such as the haunting story of a test subject who becomes the x variable; the story of a copy shop employee who gets caught in a paper jam of existence; a cautionary tale of federal agents and computer crackers as they go through computer espionage and temporal theory; or the story of an unhappy husband who becomes entangled in the love life of gastropods. All of this, plus returning MindBender filmmakers and Josh Hartnett! Who could ask for more? Reviewed by Chris Garcia and Al Owens