Toronto Webfest Review - Dead End Israeli Broadcast Web Series

Yarden (Ofir Sasson) and Kineret (Voiced by Gaya Beer Gurevich) are looking for their little brother Naftali who they lost after the nuclear war with faithful pet Kinley ribs exposed by their side.  In the first episode, the pair of teens are wandering around the street full fo Scary Mutant bugs, Creatures (with a sharp nod to Gollum) The find a cow that vegan Yarden wants to protect even though  the bovine tries to kill him.

Another plunge into dark sarcasm is episode 5 Blown Up Nation where the teens go to in a Buttsmart a send up of all modern quickie marts with their instant noodles and silicone valley feel. The staff has untoward that will have the viewer flashing back to Stephen Sondheim's Sweeney Todd. 

A third stand out and perhaps the darkest of them all entitled Bloodsuckers starts out with Yarden following instructions on how to plant mines with a wonderful play on a you tube video with a typical hosts exploding short cuts home page reminding the watcher to subscribe if they like the video.  Over the horizon come the giant bloodsucking  radioactive mosquitoes forcing Yarden to flee back to the Fon-Cell headquarters strong hold just as a telemarketer calls him to upgrade his cell phone plan.  Yarden stops in his tracks when he hears the offer made specifically for him that is far too good to be true.

Writer-director Nir Berger, hits all of the hot button topic.  The Israeli Defense force who are praised one moment for being the best in the world. Then chastised the next for their exorbitant budget and overspending. The terror of being a teen girl or young woman on a bus, how minorities are treated. Even Israeli Arab relations are skewered in a battle over living space in a high priced subdivided cave dwelling.

The series is 10 episodes each one clocking in at just over 4 minutes to  just over 5.  Its sardonic sarcasm  at its best and an animated series I can highly recommend.  

**** Out of 4

Dead End | Nir Berger |  Israel | 2019 | 10 Episodes

Tags: Jerusalem, Teenagers, Siblings, Nuclear War, IMF, Cannibalism,  The Bus, Sexual Harassment,telemarketers, Heath Care. Nazi, Holocaust Hero.