What was meant as a simple hit unwinds into an unwieldy series of unfortunate events in William P. Cook’s thriller short, The Tragedy of Senator Abe Froeman.
The job was simple for assassin Drake Vega (Antonio J Medina). While Senator Abe Froeman gives his speech in front of an elementary school…drive up, shoot the man, and take off. Nothing is ever simple when it comes to the life of a criminal.
Tony Johnson (Robert Lee Brown) is sitting stoically in front of the TV. Hearing the news of the assassination attempt on Senator Froeman, he learns of a second victim…one of the students. He has a particular interest in this story. Recently widowed, Tony’s concern is directed toward his son, who attends the school.

“…drive up, shoot the man, and take off. Nothing is ever simple…”
Later, during his sister-in-law Candice’s (Ashley Beloat) news broadcast, she reported that Tony’s son was the other victim. Tony immediately walks to his gun stash and plans his revenge…but not for the reason you think.
I’ve mentioned it many times, but the action genre is the last cinematic bastion that indie filmmakers have yet to conquer. But their damn close. The Tragedy of Senator Abe Froeman is a nice and tight, no-budget thriller that takes a twist on the mob thriller. It’s quite effective in how it sets up all the necessary context to tell a complicated 17-minute story.
Often, the short films we receive are aspirational, hoping to one day become a full-length feature. The Tragedy of Senator Abe Froeman tells just enough to make me interested in a more gritty and expanded tale.