It's impossible not to be a bowled over by the sheer ambition of Montrealer Gavin Heffernan, the writer, director and star of the feature film Expiration, now out on DVD. It's a strange and obtuse little feature, clearly done on a shoestring, about three young people who contemplate their fate over one night.

Perhaps most striking is Heffernan's use of Montreal locations, something that's beautifully done (cinematographers Sebastian Grobys and Ben Dally merit a distinct mention for their capturing of the city). And the film also features some stylish, haunting flashbacks. The DVD jacket boasts of "an ensemble of more than 60 roles," which is arguably the film's main problem. Though the actors are all competent - including Heffernan himself, who looks like a cross between '70s Partridge Family icon David Cassidy and Malcolm in the Middle's Frankie Muniz - the various and copious intertwining plots begin to collapse under their sheer weight. With so much going on, Expiration veers toward the confusing. Still, a thoughtful effort by a filmmaking newcomer; I look forward to his next project. » Matthew Hays