Review: Dull nihilists drag down experimental drama ‘Hara Kiri’

Between the credit “an experiment by Henry Alberto,” opening dialogue about a suicide pact and its title, “Hara Kiri” immediately lets the audience know what they’re in for — though an introductory quote from C.S. Lewis seems like a red herring. This isn’t meant to be a polished, restrained indie drama, but its flaws don’t solely reside in writer-director Alberto’s avant-garde approach. Instead, its biggest misstep is the two central characters who are so unlikable as to be unwatchable.

When affectionate Beto (Mojean Aria) and hard-edged August (Jesse Pimentel) meet at a Los Angeles skate park, there’s an immediate connection between them. They bond over their mutual love of skateboarding, destructive tendencies and philosophical discussions on life and death. They promise to end their lives together, and we spend their final day with them as they wreak havoc across the city, from stealing a car to threatening to kill a young woman.

Though Sade Robinson’s cinematography sometimes features well-framed shots and nice use of natural light, the rest of “Hara Kiri” is artless and aimless.

Criticizing Beto and August’s punk-fueled rebellion sounds embarrassingly straight-edge, but the young men’s sins range from graffiti to cruelty without any real motivation for their behavior. But their biggest crime isn’t all of the misdemeanors and felonies they commit — or even that they don’t cover their mouths when they sneeze — it’s that they still remain dull throughout all their mayhem.

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‘Hara Kiri’

Not rated

Running time: 1 hour, 21 minutes

Playing: Arena Cinelounge, Hollywood

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