Worst Enemy
After receiving a devastating diagnosis, a severely depressed veteran who hides his pain through self-isolation and alcohol must accept the help of his famous cousin or risk becoming just another statistic.
Excerpt
In a world plagued by social injustice, medical inequity and community initiatives that are less and less about actual community, movie watchers are learning towards escapism. So why is that Kevin Machate’s moody drama Worst Enemy (2026) works so well in a moment that’s made to resist it?
I’m a Hazard to Myself
In a world plagued by social injustice, medical inequity and community initiatives that are less and less about actual community, movie watchers are learning towards escapism. Many would rather ignore the harsh truths of life to settle into the blessed freedom of fantasy. So why is that Kevin Machate’s moody drama Worst Enemy (2026) works so well in a moment that’s made to resist it?
There are several possible reasons, but I’m inclined to believe it’s because at the end of the day, a story of truth and passion will always rise to the top. In Worst Enemy we follow Shane (Kevin Machate). There was a time when his maladies would have seemed excessive; his sweet dog has died, he’s broken up with his partner, his parents were abusive and his father still is, he lives in Waco, he’s an alcoholic war vet and he’s just been diagnosed with Major Depressive Disorder and Borderline Personality Disorder. The only bright spot is his cousin Ashley (Beth Shea), a successful Hollywood actress who he adores.
It’s… a lot. But sadly it’s no longer a possibility. When it rains it pours and it seems like every time Shane has found his bottom, the floor falls just a little deeper. He has the promise of a new job on the horizon and that’s the only thing getting him through. He has a confidant in Ashley, but as willing as Ashley is, she’s got call times and her own family to consider. When Shane reaches Ashley, she’s always ready with a kind and inspiring word, but most times when he reaches out he gets her voicemail.
Shane’s caseworker Dr. Tucker (played by director Ammie Masterson) tries to validate Shane’s experiences, but because of her association with the VA (and his growing drinking problem) he’s reluctant to confide in her. It’s just another way vices can stunt development. When Shane joins his dad Jim (Barry Corbin) and step-mother Gloria (Gayland Williams) for dinner, things go from tense to very bad.
Don’t Let Me Get Me
The encounter only adds fuel to the fire of Shane’s depression and the hope at the entrance of the pit he’s stuck in gets further and further away. Worst Enemy feels like a reference to Pink’s song. “I’m a hazard to myself, don’t let me get me. I am my own worst enemy.” and it’s something that Machate displays beautifully in Shane. You can see the stress, the sadness, the reluctance in his eyes. Even when he’s trying to bask in the few moments of happiness, he carries a sadness that surrounds him like an aura.
Situations like this make you want to find an enemy, but when something is everyone else’s fault – all of the people who failed you and shaped you into this shell of your own potential – then you really have no one to blame but yourself. At least that’s how depression can make it seem and the script shows this in a succinct yet hard-hitting way.
Worst Enemy makes you wonder not only about the people in your life who could use more support, but also about yourself. In a 23 minute film, Machate and Masterson were able to craft a film that spoke volumes, but directly. Shane’s story is not so obscene that it couldn’t happen to us or someone we love.
Technically, it’s a great effort for an indie film. The cinematography and sound are top notch and it was fun seeing an uncredited cameo of Keegan Michael Key as a member of Ashley’s acting project. Though the script is heavy there are a couple of tension relieving moments of humor and they work well and don’t distract from the film.
Overall I applaud Masterson and Machate on this film and would certainly recommend it.
Trailer :