An important and raw conversation is about to occur in a local church. The film opens at a church with one of the key leaders arriving and setting up a room downstairs with a table and chairs. Based on the setup alone, we understand there's pressure to ensure the room is set up correctly and perfectly, even though viewers are not advised what is about to occur. Jay (Jason Isaacs) and Gail (Martha Plimpton) enter the room first, requiring a moment together to prepare themselves for what is about to occur. Next to walk in are Richard (Reed Birney) and Linda (Ann Dowd). Both couples have small talk, but it's evident that the room feels awkward and tense. Now the door is shut, and the four start a conversation reliving a horrific, painful, violent moment in time. Mass is best described as a heavy drama. Given the style and plot detail, the film is incredibly dialogue heavy and almost feels like a stage play that has come to life. This is a directional debut by Fran Kranz, who has previously acted in many well-known projects, including the TV series Dollhouse and the horror film Cabin in the Woods. From the word go, viewers will understand that something important is about to occur as the church member is stressed over positioning even the smallest items. Once both couples arrive, viewers go on a journey through the past and present surrounding a mass shooting. Jay and Gail have burning questions and a desire to understand better what happened on the day. More than that, they hope to gain some type of freedom from this tragedy and their present suffering. As one might expect, given the talent on-screen, there are some amazing performances here, especially from actors Jason Isaacs and Ann Dowd. Both of these actors truly surprised me with the delivery of their characters. The film is dialogue-heavy, and some moments consist of lengthy monologues, creating a stage play-like feel. The plot is gripping, and once viewers gain a greater understanding of the situation, it's easy to become invested in both couples and emotions as they share their perspectives. Both couples share compelling points of view that always feel convincing, touching, and raw to the bone, leaving viewers in awe and silence. Pacing, for the most part, is great, and upon my first viewing, I didn't feel the almost two-hour runtime because I was so involved in all the drama. Overall, delivering a touching and unforgettable story about tragedy, Mass shines strongly with its performances and a touching, gripping, excellent script. Pacing for the majority is also excellent. Even though it's dialogue-heavy, I found myself highly invested in the four leads and passionate about knowing the outcomes and the finer details relating to the past situation. As a directional debut from Fran Kranz, there's a lot to admire here, and the achievements are most certainly admirable and applaud-worthy. * This review has been written for Sanity. For more reviews from Walkden Entertainment, check out the link here: www.walkdenentertainment.com