Tricky Brains

In Alan Shapiro’s “Tricky Brains,” a conman masquerading as the Tricky Expert worms his way into the lives of a father and son, deploying a web of deceit to unravel their sanity and cohesion. The film probes the corrosive effects of manipulation on familial bonds, as the outsider’s insidious influence undermines trust and identity. With a disquieting, claustrophobic tone, Shapiro crafts a tale of psychological sabotage that leaves its victims—and viewers—scratching the surface of reality.