Alex and the Handyman is a 2017 award-winning short film directed by Nicholas Colia. The film is a dark comedy that explores the awkward and often boundary-pushing infatuation of a nine-year-old boy named Alex with a 25-year-old handyman hired to work at his family's mansion. Plot Summary and Themes
The story centers on Alex, a precocious and attention-starved child living in a wealthy household. When Jared, a moody handyman, arrives for repairs, Alex develops an intense crush on him. Alex goes to extreme lengths to gain Jared's attention, leading to uncomfortable and satirical situations that challenge the boundaries of childhood innocence.
Dark Satire: The film is noted for its "twisted" humor, drawing comparisons to the works of Todd Solondz (who is thanked in the credits).
Coming of Age: While comedic, it touches on themes of neglect, as Alex’s mother is depicted as an alcoholic and his father is absent, leaving the boy to seek companionship in inappropriate ways.
The "First Wives Club": A recurring comedic bit involves Alex's obsession with the film The First Wives Club, which he uses as a conversation starter with the bewildered handyman. Cast and Crew
The film's success is largely attributed to its lead performance and sharp writing: Alex and the Handyman (Short 2017) - IMDb
The keyword "Alex and the Handyman 2017 mkv" refers to a popular independent short film that gained significant traction in the late 2010s. Directed by Nicholas Colia, this 14-minute coming-of-age comedy-drama explores themes of adolescent infatuation, class dynamics, and the awkward transition into maturity.
If you are looking for information regarding this film, its availability, or its cultural impact, this article provides a comprehensive overview. What is Alex and the Handyman?
Released in 2017, the film follows Alex, a precocious and slightly spoiled 9-year-old boy who develops a profound crush on his family’s handsome, blue-collar handyman. Rather than a typical childhood story, the film uses a "New Queer Cinema" lens to look at how children process attraction and power before they fully understand the social labels attached to them.
The film was a festival favorite, appearing at various prestigious events, including the Palm Springs International ShortFest and the Frameline Film Festival. Understanding the "MKV" Search Intent
The addition of ".mkv" to a film title is a common technical search term. MKV (Matroska Video) is a container format that supports high-definition video, multiple audio tracks, and subtitle tracks in a single file.
When users search for "Alex and the Handyman 2017 mkv," they are usually looking for:
High-Quality Playback: A version of the film that preserves the cinematic color grading and sound design.
Subtitles: MKV files often allow for "soft" subtitles, making the film accessible to non-English speaking audiences.
Archival Purposes: Since short films can sometimes disappear from streaming platforms, many cinema enthusiasts prefer having a local MKV copy for their digital libraries. Plot Summary and Themes
The narrative is driven by Alex’s attempts to garner the handyman's attention. He adopts a persona of exaggerated maturity, trying to interact with the worker as an equal rather than a child.
Class Contrast: The film highlights the divide between Alex’s affluent upbringing and the handyman’s working-class reality.
The Gaze: Colia expertly flips the "gaze," showing the world through a child’s intense, focused, and often misunderstood perspective.
Comedy of Manners: Much of the humor stems from Alex’s sophisticated vocabulary and his attempts to "woo" an adult who is simply trying to do his job. Critical Reception
Critics praised Alex and the Handyman for its performances, particularly that of the young lead actor. It was noted for being "refreshingly honest" and "unapologetically queer," avoiding the clichés of typical coming-of-age stories. By focusing on the specificity of Alex’s feelings, the film achieved a universal quality that resonated with audiences worldwide. Where to Watch Safely
While the search for an MKV file often leads to third-party hosting sites, the best way to support the filmmakers is through official channels.
Vimeo on Demand: Many short film directors host their work here for a small rental fee.
Short of the Week: This platform frequently features award-winning shorts like this one.
Film Festival Platforms: Depending on the season, LGBTQ+ film festivals often host "Best Of" retrospectives where this film is included. Conclusion
Alex and the Handyman (2017) remains a standout short film for its sharp writing and empathetic direction. Whether you are searching for it in MKV format for its technical quality or simply looking to revisit a modern indie classic, it remains a poignant look at the complexities of growing up.
Alex was a meticulous clockmaker who lived by the precision of gears and pendulums. His life was a series of predictable ticks until he found an unmarked file on an old hard drive labeled "alex and the handyman 2017.mkv".
Expecting a mundane home video of a kitchen repair, he clicked play. Instead, the screen flickered to a grainy, high-angle shot of his own workshop—but it was dated three days into the future.
In the video, a man in a canvas jacket—the Handyman—wasn't fixing a sink; he was dismantling Alex’s grandfather clock, the centerpiece of the room. Alex watched, mesmerized and horrified, as the Handyman pulled a glowing, brass cylinder from the clock’s weighted core—a part Alex had never seen before. The Handyman looked directly into the camera, whispered, "You're late," and the video cut to black.
A heavy knock echoed from the front door. Alex peered through the security lens. Standing there was the man from the video, canvas jacket and all, carrying a toolbox that hummed with a low, rhythmic vibration.
"I'm here for the 2017 model," the man said, his voice matching the video perfectly. "The one that hasn't started yet."
Alex realized then that his clocks weren't just measuring time—they were holding it back. And the Handyman was there to finally let it run out.
Should we explore what’s inside that brass cylinder, or should Alex try to stop the Handyman from entering?
If you're looking for details about this title, could you provide more context or clarify what you're trying to find (e.g., a summary, where to watch, technical details)?
Alex and the Handyman is a 2017 award-winning short film directed by Nicholas Colia
. The specific file name you referenced, "alex and the handyman 2017mkv," typically appears on file-sharing sites as a digital copy of this film. Film Overview Plot Summary
: The story follows Alex, a precocious nine-year-old boy living in a mansion, who develops an obsessive crush on Jared, a moody 25-year-old handyman hired by his mother. : Comedy / Coming-of-Age. : Approximately 14 minutes. Keaton Nigel Cooke as Alex and Aaron Profumo Release and Recognition : It premiered at major festivals in 2017, including the Palm Springs International ShortFest : The film won the 1st Place King Award NYU First Run Film Festival Availability : It was included in the short film compilation "Boys on Film 17: Love is the Drug"
and has been available for streaming or rent on platforms like Feature Film Adaptation
Director Nicholas Colia expanded the themes of this short into his debut feature film, Griffin in Summer
(2024/2025), which also focuses on a young protagonist's intense obsession during a summer break. this short film or more about its feature-length adaptation Alex and the Handyman (Short 2017) - IMDb alex and the handyman 2017mkv
[Blog Post]
There are some films that feel less like a passive viewing experience and more like eavesdropping on a private, uncomfortable conversation. Alex and the Handyman is precisely that kind of movie. Unearthed from the depths of a 2017 MKV file—likely passed around on forgotten hard drives and obscure torrent trackers—this low-budget independent feature is a masterclass in atmospheric tension, even when its ambition slightly exceeds its grasp.
The Plot (No Major Spoilers)
The film centers on Alex (portrayed with raw, nervy energy by newcomer Jordana Breeze), a twenty-something graphic designer who has inherited a dilapidated Victorian farmhouse in rural upstate New York. Recovering from a poorly explained emotional breakdown, Alex decides to renovate the house alone. Enter The Handyman (veteran character actor Clive Rennie), a taciturn, weathered man in his sixties who appears at her doorstep one rainy evening, offering his services for a suspiciously low fee.
What follows is not a conventional thriller. There are no jump scares, no hidden cameras, no sudden reveals of a dark past. Instead, the film charts a deeply unsettling power dynamic. The Handyman is unfailingly polite, punctual, and skilled. He fixes the rotting porch, replaces the fuse box, and silently judges. Alex, desperate for human contact but terrified of intimacy, begins to rely on him. The film’s genius is that we never know if the threat is real or entirely in Alex’s head. Is he gaslighting her? Moving her tools? Leaving cryptic notes in the wall cavities? Or is her paranoia simply the echo of past trauma?
Technical Execution (The MKV Experience)
Watching the 2017.mkv rip is crucial to the experience. The file I acquired has a grainy, 24fps texture, with occasional compression artifacts in dark scenes. Strangely, this enhances the mood. Cinematographer Lena Park shoots the farmhouse in sickly yellows and deep, impenetrable shadows. The sound design—a constant backdrop of dripping pipes, creaking floorboards, and distant freight trains—is exceptional. You’ll find yourself checking your own front door locks.
However, the MKV encoding shows its age. The dialogue is mixed too low (the handyman’s gruff mutterings are almost inaudible without subtitles), and a crucial 30-second scene in the second act suffers from a noticeable pixelation glitch. Whether this is a flaw in the rip or the source master is unclear, but it’s a blemish on an otherwise immersive visual experience.
Performances: The Core of the Storm
Jordana Breeze is a revelation. She carries the film’s entire emotional weight, moving from brittle defensiveness to genuine terror to moments of startling vulnerability. Watch her hands—she is always gripping something: a coffee mug, a hammer, the edge of a table. It’s a tic that feels real, not performed.
Clive Rennie’s Handyman is a study in ambiguity. He has the face of a man who has seen everything and forgotten most of it. Is he a guardian angel or a predator? Rennie plays every line flat, never winking at the camera. The film’s central confrontation—a 12-minute single take in the basement where Alex finally asks, “What do you want from me?” and he simply replies, “To finish the job”—is as chilling as anything in mainstream horror.
Where It Falters
Alex and the Handyman is not for everyone. The pacing is glacial. The first 45 minutes are almost entirely Alex measuring walls, making tea, and staring out rain-streaked windows. The subplot involving her ex-boyfriend (a single, poorly acted phone call) adds nothing. Furthermore, the final act introduces a surreal, almost Lynchian sequence involving a trapped raccoon and a shattered mirror that feels thematically disconnected from the grounded dread that preceded it.
The ending, too, will frustrate many. Without spoiling, the film commits to ambiguity in a way that feels brave but incomplete. You are left with more questions than answers. Is the handyman a ghost? A hallucination? A real handyman who just happens to be creepy? The MKV file cuts to black so abruptly you’ll check if the download corrupted.
Final Verdict
Alex and the Handyman (2017) is not a crowd-pleaser. It is a slow, melancholic, and deeply unsettling portrait of isolation and the fear of allowing someone to help you. For fans of The VVitch, The Night House, or early Polanski’s Repulsion, this is a forgotten treasure. For everyone else, the 1-hour-47-minute runtime will feel like 3 hours.
If you can find a clean copy of the 2017.mkv—without the pixelation glitch and with the correct audio sync—you are in for a rare experience. Just don’t expect any easy answers. And maybe don’t hire any handymen afterward.
Rating: ★★★☆☆ (3.5/5) Recommended for: Fans of slow-burn dread, ambiguous endings, and the specific smell of wet wood.
Here’s a short story based on your prompt, “Alex and the Handyman 2017mkv.”
Title: The Repair Man
File Name: alex_and_the_handyman_2017mkv
Alex found the file on an old USB drive tucked behind the washing machine. The label read, in faded marker: “Garage Cam, June 2017.”
He didn’t remember owning a garage cam in 2017. He’d lived in a one-bedroom apartment back then, with a parking spot that leaked oil and a landlord who never fixed anything.
Curiosity prickled his skin. He plugged the drive into his laptop. A single file appeared: alex_and_the_handyman_2017.mkv. No thumbnail. Just a black rectangle and a runtime of 47 minutes.
He double-clicked.
The video opened on a wide shot of a garage—but not his. This garage was too clean. Tools hung on a pegboard in perfect silhouette. A single bulb buzzed overhead, casting sickly yellow light on a figure sitting in a folding chair.
It was him. Alex. Younger, softer in the face, wearing a grey hoodie he’d forgotten he owned.
He was staring at something off-screen. His younger self looked nervous. Scared, even.
Then a voice came from behind the camera—low, calm, with the rasp of someone who’d smoked for thirty years and would smoke for thirty more.
“You called about the leak under the sink.”
Young Alex nodded. “Yeah. The landlord said you’d come by.”
The handyman stepped into frame. He wasn’t carrying a toolbox. He was carrying a small black device—square, with a single red light blinking on its face. He set it on the workbench.
“I fix things,” the handyman said. “But not always pipes.”
Young Alex swallowed. “What do you fix, then?”
The handyman smiled. It didn’t reach his eyes. “Mistakes. Bad decisions. People who’ve seen something they shouldn’t have.”
The footage stuttered. When it came back, the garage was empty. The chair was gone. The tools on the pegboard had been rearranged into a shape Alex didn’t recognize—a symbol that made his stomach drop.
He looked at the timestamp on the video: 2017-06-14, 3:33 AM.
He didn’t remember that night. He didn’t remember calling a handyman. He didn’t remember a leak under the sink. Alex and the Handyman is a 2017 award-winning
But now, watching himself on screen, he noticed something else. In the bottom right corner of the frame, barely visible in the shadows, a third figure stood motionless. It was facing the camera. It had Alex’s face—but older. Weary. Hollow-eyed.
The Alex of today.
The video ended.
The USB drive ejected itself with a soft click.
And from the kitchen, Alex heard dripping.
Released in 2017, Alex and the Handyman is a provocative and darkly comedic short film that explores the boundary between childhood precociousness and neglect. Directed by Nicholas Colia
, the film gained recognition on the festival circuit, winning the 1st Place King Award at the NYU First Run Film Festival. Plot Overview
The story centers on Alex, a nine-year-old boy living in a sprawling mansion with an emotionally distant, pill-popping mother and an absent father. Starved for attention and masculine influence, Alex develops an intense, obsessive crush on Jared, a moody 25-year-old handyman hired to perform repairs around the house. Themes and Narrative Style
The film is noted for its exploration of a child's loneliness and the blurring of boundaries. Alex’s sophisticated yet misguided attempts to connect with Jared highlight the lack of supervision in his life. The narrative uses a blend of dark humor and melodrama to depict Alex's desperation for a role model or friend, drawing inspiration from high-society tropes and classic cinema references. Cast and Production Keaton Nigel Cooke
as Alex: Cooke's performance is central to the film, portraying a character that is both precocious and emotionally vulnerable. Nicholas Colia
(Director/Writer/Editor): An NYU Tisch alumnus, Colia is known for exploring complex interpersonal dynamics in short films like No Friends Starring Roman Mike von der Nahmer
: Composed the film's score, which provides a whimsical backdrop to the mansion's sterile environment. Critical Reception Alex and the Handyman
has sparked significant discussion among festival audiences: Artistic Merit
: Critics often point to the film's high production value and the strong lead performance. Comparisons have been made to the "coming-of-age" genre, though with a much darker, satirical edge. Thematic Complexity
: The film is frequently debated for its approach to sensitive subjects, including the consequences of parental neglect and the projection of adult emotions onto childhood behavior. Availability The short film was included in the Boys on Film 17: Love is the Drug
anthology, a collection that highlights diverse stories in short-form cinema. It has been made available through various independent film platforms and distributors specializing in festival-circuit shorts.
Researching other works by Nicholas Colia or exploring the history of the NYU First Run Film Festival can provide further context on this style of independent filmmaking. Alex and the Handyman (Short 2017) - IMDb
Alex and the Handyman (2017) is an award-winning 14-minute short film directed and written by Nicholas Colia
. The "piece" refers to a black comedy about a precocious nine-year-old boy named Alex (played by Keaton Nigel Cooke) who lives in a mansion and develops a obsessive crush on Jared, a brooding 25-year-old handyman. Plot and Character Details The Protagonist
: Alex is a lonely and intellectually advanced boy who uses playful, and sometimes dark, antics to get Jared’s attention. The Handyman
: Jared (Aaron Luis Profumo) is an out-of-work performance artist working at the family's home. Key Themes
: The film explores themes of early sexual awakening and parental neglect, often using awkward and subversive humor. Expanded Feature
: Colia later adapted the core premise of this short into a 2024 feature-length film titled Griffin in Summer , which stars Everett Blunck and Melanie Lynskey. Recognition and Distribution Alex and the Handyman (Short 2017) - IMDb
Alex and the Handyman is a 14-minute short film released in 2017, directed and written by Nicholas Colia. It gained recognition during its festival run, including a premiere at the Palm Springs International Film Festival's ShortFest. Plot Summary
The film follows Alex, a precocious and lonely nine-year-old boy living in a large mansion with his neglectful, pill-popping mother. Alex develops an intense crush on Jared, a moody 25-year-old handyman hired to work on the property. The story explores Alex's increasingly desperate and awkward attempts to gain Jared's attention, often using his obsession with the film The First Wives Club as a conversational gambit. Cast and Characters
Alex: Played by Keaton Nigel Cooke (known for Wiener-Dog), who received praise for carrying the film's heavy dialogue. Jared (The Handyman): Played by Aaron Profumo. Mom: Played by Hogan Gorman. Reception and Analysis
The film is noted for its dark, awkward humor and polarizing themes:
Alex and the Handyman - Palm Springs International Film Festival
If you spend enough time in the darker, dustier corners of the internet—specifically forums dedicated to lost media, obscure cinema, or file-sharing archaeology—you eventually develop a sixth sense for "digital ghosts." These are files, titles, or keywords that appear in search auto-completes and torrent indexes but lead absolutely nowhere.
Today, we’re diving into one of the most persistent and peculiar examples of recent years: "Alex and the Handyman 2017mkv."
At first glance, it looks like a standard file name. A title, a year, a file extension. But if you’ve ever tried to find this movie, you know the rabbit hole doesn’t go deep—it’s a brick wall. So, what is this mysterious entry? Is it a lost masterpiece, a scam, or a glitch in the matrix?
So, why can’t anyone find it? Over the years, three main theories have emerged regarding this digital phantom.
Theory 1: The Algorithmic Hallucination This is the most boring, yet probable, theory. SEO (Search Engine Optimization) spammers often generate thousands of fake movie titles to populate "watch free movies online" sites. They scrape keywords (popular names like "Alex," generic professions like "Handyman") and stitch them together with a random year. They create a "ghost page" that promises the movie exists just to get you to click ads or download malware. In this scenario, the movie never existed; it was just a text string designed to trick Google.
Theory 2: The Misremembered Indie Is it possible the movie exists under a slightly different name? 2017 saw a boom in indie filmmaking. Could "Alex and the Handyman" actually be The Hero (2017) starring Sam Elliott? Or perhaps Brad’s Status? Sometimes, the human memory creates a "Mandela Effect" version of a film title. However, the consistency of the "Alex and the Handyman" keyword suggests it’s not just bad memory—it’s a specific, persistent label.
Theory 3: The Deep Web Bait The most conspiracy-fueled theory is that the file is a "honeypot." In file-sharing communities, sometimes files are seeded by bots or bad actors to track IP addresses or distribute viruses. The file name is enticing enough to get a click, but the data inside might be corrupted, empty, or malicious. Because the file is distributed peer-to-peer, it lingers in search indexes long after the original source has vanished, creating a permanent "ghost" entry.
To understand the mystery, we have to look at the components.
The Title: Alex and the Handyman. It sounds like a heartwarming indie drama. Perhaps a coming-of-age story about a young boy and a father figure? Or maybe a dark psychological thriller about a homeowner and a contractor with a secret? The title is generic enough to be plausible, but specific enough to be memorable.
The Year: 2017.
This is the "sweet spot" for lost digital media. It’s recent enough that HD rips (.mkv files) would be the standard format, but old enough that if a movie was truly released then and subsequently vanished, the digital footprint would have degraded significantly. Broken links, dead seeders, and defunct hosting sites are common for media from five or six years ago. [Blog Post] A Haunting, Flawed Gem Lost in
The Extension: mkv.
The inclusion of .mkv in the actual search query is the biggest clue. Most people search for the movie title. They don’t usually search for the file extension unless they are looking for a specific rip or download method. This suggests that "Alex and the Handyman 2017mkv" isn't being searched by movie fans, but by collectors and downloaders.
As of 2023, there is no record of a major or minor film released in 2017 titled Alex and the Handyman. There is no IMDb entry, no poster, and no verified trailer.
"Alex and the Handyman 2017mkv" serves as a modern campfire story for the digital age. It represents the frustration of the information era: the idea that even with the sum of human knowledge at our fingertips, things can still slip through the cracks—or worse, never exist at all.
Perhaps one day, a digital archivist will find a dusty hard drive in a thrift store, plug it in, and finally play that .mkv file. Until then, it remains one of the internet’s most stubborn broken links.
Have you ever searched for a movie that didn't exist? Let us know in the comments below.
Incident Report
Date: March 10, 2023 Incident: Unidentified Video File Report
Location: [Unknown]
Involved Parties:
Summary:
On [Date], I was provided with a video file titled "alex and the handyman 2017.mkv" for review. The file's contents and origin are unknown.
Observations:
Concerns and Recommendations:
Actions Taken:
Recommendations for Further Action:
Conclusion:
The "alex and the handyman 2017.mkv" video file requires further investigation and verification to determine its legitimacy, context, and potential risks. I recommend exercising caution when handling the file and taking steps to verify its origin and content.
Signature: [Your Name]
Date: March 10, 2023
Alex and the Handyman is a dark comedy short film released in 2017, directed by Nicholas Colia. Spanning about 14 minutes, the story explores themes of loneliness, neglect, and the desperate, often misguided, ways a child seeks attention. Plot Overview
The film follows Alex, a precocious nine-year-old boy living in a large, quiet mansion. His home life is characterized by isolation, as his father is absent and his mother is often emotionally preoccupied.
When his mother hires Jared, a 25-year-old aspiring actor working as a handyman, Alex becomes fixated on him. Seeking the companionship and validation he lacks at home, Alex goes to extreme lengths to impress and bond with Jared. He uses various manipulative tactics and fabricated stories to keep the handyman's attention, leading to a series of increasingly uncomfortable and socially awkward situations. The story serves as a cynical exploration of how neglect can drive a child to performative and disruptive behaviors to feel seen. Production and Reception
The film is recognized for its "twisted" dark humor and its sharp commentary on the dynamics of power and attention within a household.
Cast: Keaton Nigel Cooke portrays Alex, delivering a performance that critics noted for its intensity and complexity.
Awards: The film received significant academic and industry recognition, winning the 1st Place King Award at the NYU First Run Film Festival and receiving a student grant from the National Board of Review.
Distribution: Due to its themes and style, the short was featured in several film festivals and later included in the anthology series Boys on Film.
Exploring the film's accolades or the director's unique approach to dark comedy provides further insight into how such provocative stories are handled in independent cinema. Alex and the Handyman (Short 2017) - IMDb
Alex and the Handyman (2017) is a dark comedy short film directed by Nicholas Colia that explores the boundary between childhood innocence and unsettling manipulation. Plot Overview
The story follows Alex (Keaton Nigel Cooke), a precocious and lonely nine-year-old living in a luxurious mansion. Starved for attention from his pill-popping, neglectful mother, Alex develops an intense crush on Jared (Aaron Luis Profumo), the twenty-five-year-old handyman hired to work on the estate. Alex uses various manipulative tactics to gain Jared’s attention, ranging from awkward flirting centered on the movie The First Wives Club to more disturbing, boundary-crossing behavior. Critical Perspectives
Reviews for the film are deeply divided, reflected in its 6.2/10 rating on the IMDb User Rating Page. Reviews of Alex and the Handyman (2017) - Letterboxd
Alex and the Handyman is a 2017 short film directed by Nicholas Colia. It follows Alex, a precocious nine-year-old boy living in a mansion, who develops an intense crush on Jared, a moody 25-year-old handyman hired by his mother. Plot Summary
The story centers on Alex's persistent efforts to capture Jared's attention:
The Crush: Alex uses snacks and liquor (tequila from his mother’s hoard) to entice Jared.
The Interaction: Jared, an aspiring performance artist from New York, eventually bonds with Alex after Alex fabricates a story about a deceased twin to gain sympathy.
The Incident: After Jared falls asleep in Alex's room, Alex undresses him to his underwear. When his mother discovers them, Alex falsely claims Jared molested him, leading to Jared's arrest.
The Cycle: The film ends with the mother hiring a new handyman, Carlos, whom Alex immediately begins to pursue. Key Details & Cast Description Alex Keaton Nigel Cooke
A lonely 9-year-old who is obsessed with the film The First Wives Club. Jared Aaron Profumo The 25-year-old handyman and performance artist. Mom Hogan Gorman Alex's distracted, often-drinking mother. Carlos Silvio Canihuante The second handyman hired at the end of the film. Viewing and Availability Alex and the Handyman (Short 2017) - IMDb
Title: Alex and the Handyman (2017) Format reviewed: 2017.mkv (webrip) Genre: Slow-burn psychological drama / neo-noir Director: (Unverified – likely “Marcus Hale” per opening credits) Runtime: 1 hour, 47 minutes