Bad Timing – Film Review
WARNING! This review contains SPOILERS!
Directed by Lenni Uitto and Musa Ali Aden, Bad Timing is one of those short films that proves how chaos and comedy can collide in all the right (and wrong) ways. It opens with Abdi, played by Musa Ali Aden himself, sneaking into a convenience store to rob the place. His confidence is almost endearing. He thinks he’s found the perfect target: a clueless skinny guy (Jason Wixom) running the counter while the store’s real owner does time in jail. But the universe—and the timing—have other plans.
Abdi’s awkward attempt to rob the store turns into a frenzy the moment Big Bro (Karam Abdullah) himself rises up from behind the counter. What follows is chaos: a scuffle, a gun that changes hands, a desperate 911 call where the robber begs for help from the police, and bullets start flying and glass is shattering.
The film’s realism is what really sells the story. The location feels raw and authentic—gritty lighting, tight camera work, and a convincingly “lived-in” store space that grounds the comedy in uncomfortably reality. The handheld camera movement adds urgency without distracting from the action, and every shot seems motivated by Abdi’s frantic energy. It’s messy for good reasons.
Where the film loses a bit of rhythm for me is in its use of music. The elevator-style tune that plays in the convenience store feels tonally out of place. It seems meant to add a lighthearted touch, but it undercuts the tension and gritty humor already working well in the visuals. The sound design by Jerome Boisvert is strong enough to carry those moments without needing the comedic cue of background music. Honestly, stripping it out entirely might have let the action and dialogue land even harder.
A smaller nitpick—but one that stood out—is the dispatcher line where she says, “The robber is armed and scared and needs our help.” It’s a funny line on paper but slightly confusing in the moment, especially since it’s the owner who’s armed, not Abdi. It’s a quick fix in post, but one that could clean up the story clarity.
Technically though, this short nails it. The color grading is consistent, keeping that dim late-night realism intact from start to finish. The sound mix is clean and well-balanced—no easy feat in a shootout scene like this. The editing keeps the pace tight, never dragging, never losing focus. It’s clear this crew knew exactly what kind of film they were making and committed fully.
Musa Ali Aden carries the film. His performance as Abdi is perfectly calibrated with a blend of desperation, overconfidence, and just enough cluelessness to make his reaction believable. His panic during the 911 call is especially funny because it feels so real.
Having two directors—Lenni Uitto and Musa Ali Aden—can often lead to tonal confusion, but here it’s smooth. You can tell these two have worked together before; there’s a shared vision threading through the entire film. The storytelling never breaks rhythm, and that cohesion gives Bad Timing very good timing indeed.
In the end, Bad Timing gave me Pulp Fiction vibes. It’s quick, sharp, and genuinely funny. The humor lands because the danger feels real, and the danger hits harder because the humor feels grounded. It’s the kind of short that makes you think: this concept could easily extend into a full-length feature.
If you’re in the mood for a tight, chaotic little crime comedy, Bad Timing is worth every misstep its main character makes.
