Writer-director Jake Wachtel’s The Sentry is a short film with big ambition—and it delivers with precision. Officially selected for SXSW London, Raindance, and Palm Springs International ShortFest, this genre-bending action-comedy is far more than a clever twist on spy tropes. It’s a deft meditation on complicity, power, and the unseen human cost behind global intrigue. And it firmly establishes Wachtel as one of the most exciting directorial voices to emerge from the festival circuit.

From its opening frames, The Sentry oozes style, presenting a charismatic Western spy whose swagger and control are soon dismantled by an unexpected conversation with a local Cambodian guard. What could have played as a throwaway comedic encounter slowly reveals itself as the emotional and moral core of the film. The tension between spectacle and sincerity is what elevates The Sentry—and this is where Wachtel’s skill shines.

From its opening frames, The Sentry oozes style, presenting a charismatic Western spy whose swagger and control are soon dismantled by an unexpected conversation with a local Cambodian guard.

Wachtel directs with a remarkable sense of balance. He juggles action set-pieces, dry wit, and philosophical reflection without ever letting one element overpower the others. His background in documentary and social-impact storytelling is evident—not in didacticism, but in his genuine curiosity about the people and systems beyond the camera lens. Every shot and line of dialogue feels considered, not just for its entertainment value, but for its ability to question dominant narratives.

Wachtel directs with a remarkable sense of balance.

The Cambodian setting is not a mere exotic backdrop. Wachtel, who has lived and worked in Phnom Penh since 2015, approaches the location and its people with intimacy and authenticity. His deep-rooted connection to the country—honed through years of teaching filmmaking and collaborating with local talent—results in a textured, respectful portrait of a society too often rendered invisible in Western genre filmmaking.

It’s a rare filmmaker who can make a seven-minute film feel as rich and resonant as a full-length feature. But Wachtel does just that, thanks to his meticulous craftsmanship and ethical imagination. His earlier work, including the critically lauded Karmalink, showed promise. The Sentry confirms it.

It’s a rare filmmaker who can make a seven-minute film feel as rich and resonant as a full-length feature.

In a cinematic landscape that often prizes speed over substance, The Sentry is a short that lingers. With a disarming sense of humor and a quietly radical heart, Jake Wachtel has not just directed a film—he’s reframed a genre. Keep your eye on him.

Sally Brown