Emergency details the tumultuous events of a ‘legendary tour’ of Spring Break parties by two best friends, Kunle (Donald Elise Watkins) and Sean (RJ Cyler), as they set out to be the first Black Buchanan college students to finish the infamous crawl. However, their night takes a disturbing turn, as they find an unconscious young woman (Maddie Nichols) at a frat party.
Concerned for her safety, but scared of the repercussions and blame if they reported the incident to the police, the friends rally on this spiralling night to try and resolve the volatile situation… Tapping into the disquieting zeitgeist of modern America, this remarkable satirical feature expertly spotlights the profound impact of systemic racism and the ever-present fear of a corrupted Police force.
It also showcases an endearing portrait of male friendship at its beating heart, as the two best friends, alongside their roommate Carlos (Sebastian Chacon), become a crucial network of support for one another.
Juxtaposing the care-free energy of youth with the tension-fuelled, hard-hitting realities of racial injustice, director Carey Williams expertly navigates a delicate balancing act in expanding his 2018 short film. A festival favourite, having screened at SXSW and Sundance this year, Emergency deftly rides the line between dark comedy and intensely timely social commentary.