Death is the inevitable end we’re all going to experience at some point. If you’re lucky, you will live to an old age and have the opportunity to live a longer and more fulfilling life. But with old age comes new obstacles, like your body breaking down, memory loss, and the possibility of advanced disease. Dementia is a tragic disease. It robs you of your memories, language, problem-solving, and other thinking abilities that are severe enough to interfere with daily life. Filmmaker Dillon Bentlage has personal experience with dementia. He watched his grandmother struggle with the disease before she passed away from cancer. The experience inspired Bentlage to co-write his first feature film, Watching Mr. Pearson, with writer Simon Kienitz Kincade (Dilettantes; Play It by Ear). Directed by Bentlage, Watching Mr. Pearson is intended to be a love letter to people living with dementia and the people around them who want them to live a full, enjoyable life. The film follows Robert Pearson, played by Hugo Armstrong (Bosch: Legacy; Agent Stoker), an elderly man who used to be a legendary Hollywood actor but is now living with dementia. When one of his caregivers, Caroline (Dominika Zawada), discovers that allowing Robert to perform scenes from his old movies brings him joy, she fights for him to continue doing them.
Hugo Armstrong as Robert Pearson in WATCHING MR. PEARSON. Photo courtesy of KT Pictures.
Caroline, an immigrant who is trying to renew her visa, is Robert’s daytime caregiver. At night, she is relieved by Miguel (Luis Rizo), who is struggling to take care of his mother at home and dreams of being a screenwriter. Miguel helps Robert with his nighttime routine and gets him ready for bed each night. Robert is somewhat lucid most of the time and communicates well but also struggles to remember things. He spends his time watching his old movies each day and retreating back to a time when he was a star and he had a purpose in life. One day, while going through old boxes, Caroline finds screenplays from Robert’s films and realizes that revisiting those characters and reciting his lines brings Robert a bliss that is missing from his life. But Miguel scolds Caroline for allowing Robert to dress up in his old costumes and act out his movies. He tells her she is just confusing Robert by allowing him to play make believe. Caroline believes she is helping Robert until things begin to spiral out of control.
L-R: Sam Bullington as Young Robert and Dominika Zawada as Caroline in WATCHING MR. PEARSON. Photo courtesy of KT Pictures.
Shot in Connecticut (where Bentlage is from) over 16 days with a small budget and crew, Watching Mr. Pearson graciously allows the audience a personal glimpse into Robert’s deteriorating mind. Sam Bullington (Two Sides; Fallout) plays the younger, well-coiffed version of Robert starring in his old Hollywood movies. Armstrong brings humanity and complexity to the role of Robert and realistically portrays how terrifying it is to slowly lose agency over your body and your life. Armstrong also has the amazing ability to put a noticeable twinkle in Robert’s eye when Caroline runs scenes with him. Zawada precisely exhibits the quiet, patient personality required to be an effective caregiver to an elderly person with dementia. She and Armstrong have a tender, trusting chemistry that accurately depicts a caregiver-patient relationship. Rizo brings careful determination to the character of Miguel as he wrestles with doing what’s best for Robert while coping with his home life and aspirations.
L-R: Dominika Zawada as Caroline and Hugo Armstrong as Robert Pearson in WATCHING MR. PEARSON. Photo courtesy of KT Pictures.
While Bentlage pushed himself to finish Watching Mr. Pearson in a short amount of time, the film succeeds in taking the time to let the audience get to know the characters. The storytelling is well-paced and never slow. Bentlage and cinematographer Peter Nogueira (You Still Have Time) spent a lot of time planning for each day of shooting Watching Mr. Pearson, giving Robert’s house a homely, lived-in atmosphere that skillfully combines old Hollywood aesthetic with modern lighting. The majority of the story is spent inside the beautiful Villa Louise, a historic home in Connecticut, which served as Robert’s home.
Hugo Armstrong as Robert Pearson in WATCHING MR. PEARSON. Photo courtesy of KT Pictures.
Watching Mr. Pearson blends believable, heartfelt performances with a truthful, nuanced portrayal of the progression of dementia. The credible representation of a patient-caregiver relationship feels organic and never rushed. Watching Mr. Pearson expertly demonstrates the heartbreaking deterioration of one man’s mind, how important a caregiver can be, and teaches the audience the importance of patience and joy.
In theaters beginning April 9th, 2026.
For more information, head to the official Watching Mr. Pearson website.
Final Score: 3.5 out of 5.
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Categories: In Theaters, Reviews
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