Traveling alone in what appears to be the aftermath of the breakdown of American society, DAVID weaves through the destruction of the rural northeast, desperate for respite from his debilitating mental and physical conditions. Deep in the wilds, he unites with PLINY, a veteran fixed on exposing the culprit of America’s demise. Allied through their convictions, they embark on a rough, o-the-beaten-path mission to the town of Hadley. There they plan to join the ranks of their fellow patriots in the revolution against the government program that has contaminated our water.
Through a series of found footage material, we meet JENNIFER, a content marketing manager at a laboratory. Jennifer discovers that her employer is covering up the contamination of a waterway by a powerful client to protect their profits and reputation. Making her own journey homeward, she must decide between her career or blowing the whistle on a potential ecological nightmare.
With the obelisk in Hadley serving as their signal-fire, David, Pliny, and Jennifer navigate their way towards the truth. Battling the ramifications of a seemingly destroyed social order, David and Pliny crash headlong into Jennifer, revealing the film’s twist. Fueled by conspiracy theories and half-truths, our post-apocalyptic heroes have been traveling through contemporary America on a pizzagate-esque incursion, entirely lost in their own constructed reality.
Ultimately, The Obelisk shows us the tragedy of misinformation, manipulation, and the consequence of seeing only what we want.
David
Alexey Hartlieb-Shea
Feeling abandoned and riddled with mistrust, David has turned his back on his community. Believing it necessary for his survival he sets out on his own, determined to find relief from the symptoms plaguing his body and mind. His social nature is affable, but a lifetime of bad luck, poor decisions and increasing poor health have left him isolated, scared, and suffering. He knows the solution to his problems is out there, but nothing comes free in this world.
The Cult
Local Cast
From the outside, this group seems to offer a haven of community and healing amidst the ruins of their surroundings. Under the guidance of their charismatic leader, they play into the cliché of the autonomous, minimalistic settlements that we typically see in post-apocalyptic stories. They are not overtly harmful, but their interactions with our two heroes leave us questioning the complex interplay between free will and abiding by the rules.
Jennifer
Dolly Lewis
Jennifer is a single mother and the Marketing Executive at aQva, a laboratory. Her determined nature and ability to embrace tough decisions have helped her work her way to a prominent position. Despite her steely business persona, she is a loving person who wants to do the “right” thing. Unfortunately, going with her gut often clashes with her pragmatism.
Archer
David Bennent
Archer is a scientist at the same laboratory as Jennifer. He discovers a potential chemical leak at a client’s factory. Still, the lab’s leadership seeks to rationalize any possible consequences that could affect profits, even though it means ignoring their social responsibility.
Pliny
Gino Pesi
Pliny is an army veteran. His work has left him profoundly disillusioned and suspicious. Upon returning to civilian life, he watched his marriage disintegrate and his friends suffer mentally and physically. His anger, fear, and frustration fuel his mission to reach the obelisk in Hadley, where he hopes to expose the truth about a top-secret government surveillance program he believes is the source of his and his country’s problems.
The Militia
Local Cast
A group of locals who regard themselves as defenders of individual rights against the presumed interference of the federal government. They unexpectedly cross paths with David and Pliny.