A spoiler-free review by Kraken Film Reviews
THE CURRENT STATE OF
THE BACKYARD POOL INDUSTRY (2026)
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Derek Frey
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David Amadio
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United States
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Derek Frey
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17 minutes, 52 seconds
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Comedy, Dramedy, Fantasy
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English
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What’s the true cost of a leak? For the Osgood family, it isn’t just the price of patching their backyard pool, it’s the slow drain of joy from their home…
Derek Frey’s clever short film, The Current State of the Backyard Pool Industry, dives headfirst into this chlorinated crisis.
The Osgoods’ pool is now a concrete grave for summer memories, and the family is, frankly, all dried up.
Can you waterproof your dreams against reality?
The film cleverly uses this aquatic void to explore a universal middle-class anxiety, the cost of upkeep, both financial and emotional.
Their quiet resignation is spectacularly disrupted by the arrival of Willy Chamieux, a figure of pure whimsy who seems to have drifted in from a sun-dappled, bygone era.
His proposition (to ignore the leak and take one final, glorious swim) serves as the inciting magic that transforms the pool from a burden back into a portal.
What follows is a tender, funny, and visually inventive exploration of whether a family can repair the fantastical memories that hold them together, even if the vessel that contains them is fundamentally broken. The film asks a buoyant question: can you waterproof your dreams against the slow leak of reality?
In Derek Frey’s whimsical short film, The Current State of the Backyard Pool Industry, a malfunctioning backyard pool becomes the surreal battleground for a family’s dreams, disappointments, and desires. This 18-minute dramedy-fantasy proves that a potent creative vision can make a bigger splash than any special effects.
Frey’s direction is the film's undeniable anchor, he establishes a unique, slightly off-kilter vibe that blends pop aesthetics with mysterious undertones. Magical realism, is a genre defined by "a merging of fantasy and realism" where fantastical elements are woven into a recognizable world without fanfare. The film's suburban setting is central to the genre's power, as magical realism "emphasizes the beauty and magic in the mundane."
The cinematography is crisp and evocative, turning the pool’s turquoise water into a character itself—a portal to both memory and fantasy. It works in perfect harmony with a soundtrack that is indeed peak, driving the emotional and rhythmic core of the story.
The film’s central theme? Normalizing the supernatural.
The film’s central theme (the clash between dreams and harsh realities, viewed through a midlife crisis lens) is delivered with a comedic touch. It doesn’t bludgeon you with meaning but lets it float to the surface.
The final act crescendos into a choreographed musical scene where editing, music, and movement unite in a burst of creative catharsis. This sequence showcases a directorial confidence that is attracting to watch and aligns with the genre's ability to create "an adult and modern fairytale-like tone" by normalizing the supernatural.
If the film stumbles, it’s in the script and pacing of the second act. Some of the narrative mechanics feel a bit wobbly as it sets up its magical premise. However, Frey’s strong creative direction vision and visual storytelling more than compensates, keeping the viewer engaged through the brief patches of turbulence.
Tonally, the film is a fascinating hybrid. It feels like a quirky descendant of 1950s and 60s poolside musicals (think the aquatic ballets of Esther Williams films) filtered through a modern, indie sensibility. It also taps into a deeper, almost mythical American relationship with the backyard pool.
The Pool as a protagonist, and mirror…
In a brilliant narrative twist, the pool itself emerges as the most dynamic character. It is not a passive setting but an active, almost willful antagonist for the family members and a portal for the protagonist.
For the weary family members, the pool is a financial black hole and a monument to faded youth, reflecting their own sense of stagnation. Their resistance is a resistance to hope itself, making them a grounded but lifeless reality check.
This contrast is central to the film’s conflict, though the family members’ skepticism can feel more like a plot function than a fully explored mindset, a slight weakness in an otherwise fluid script.
This creative intention makes perfect sense of the film's unique texture. Director Derek Frey states he aimed to "transform an ordinary, everyday setting into a space where reality and gentle fantasy intertwine," a modern nod to Fellini's tradition. He succeeds by first grounding us in a suburbia that critic Bill Vaughn once wryly defined as where "the developer bulldozes out the trees, then names the streets after them"
The Verdict
The Current State of the Backyard Pool Industry is a visually charming short film that uses magical realism to explore very real human frustrations. It’s a perfect watch for fans of whimsical comedy, magical realism, and anyone who appreciates bold directorial flair. While the script has some minor hiccups, the overall experience is refreshing and inventive; an example to how a simple setting can become a powerful metaphor for family, regret, and renewal.
In a catchy line? Derek Frey’s film suggests that sometimes, to save your family, you first have to take a leap of faith into the deep end.
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