Writer-director Christian Nilsson’s second feature, Westhampton, focuses on Tom Bell (Finn Wittrock), a guilt-ridden, angsty filmmaker who reluctantly (but deliberately) returns to the titular town where he grew up despite the fact that he’s become persona non grata there because of a tragic car accident that occurred his senior year.
Bell is in town to screen his new film, based on the events of his youth, and funneled through his fervent desire for forgiveness and redemption. But many townsfolk, including the local cop and his former bestie, Dickie (Jake Weary), are still angry and want him gone.
Nilsson brilliantly intercuts moments from Tom’s black and white 16mm film-within-the film (shot in intense, kinetic scenes where the camera is always moving) into the film proper where the camera sits still and allows the Westhampton atmosphere to breathe and his characters to simply relate to each other (or not).
Westhampton is a reflective, hypnotic, emotionally gripping work.
The filmmaker began his career as a video journo for outlets like The Huffington Post, Esquire, Buzzfeed and the Atlantic.
During the pandemic he and YouTuber Eric Tabach made a short horror movie, Unsubscribe, which Nilson wrote in one day and shot mostly over zoom. It, oddly, became the number one film in the U.S. according to Box Office Mojo in June of 2020.
His feature directorial debut, Dashcam, was released by Gravitas Ventures in 2021.
Westhampton is currently seeking distribution.
The film will have one final showing at the Fest on Saturday, June 14@11:30am. For tickets visit: https://tribecafilm.com/films/westhampton-2025
The Contending had the pleasure of a chat with Nilsson about his wonderful new film during Tribeca.
