Horror Shorts Reviews: February 2021

Text © Richard Gary / Indie Horror Films, 2021
Images from the Internet

Filmmakers, please note: It is important that you list your films on IMDB. Going forward, I will not review a film that is unlisted, and I have seen a few good ones that are not.

Horror Shorts Reviews for February 2021

 

Covivid
Directed by Diego Vincentini
Indiegocinema
15:12 minutes, 2020

www.facebook.com/covividshortfilm
The one positive about the whole COVID-19 pandemic is the amount of art that is coming out of it. In this case, this whole horror comedy was done – cast and crew – by Vincentini’s immediate family (mother, father, sister), his sister’s boyfriend, and Diego’s friend. Our protagonist, played by the director (so let’s call him Diego), arrives at what I believe is the family vacation home, dressed in full hazmat gear. His family is stuck in the airport because of shutdowns, so he is alone. As Johnny Thunders’ said, “And when I’m home / Big deal, I’m still alone.” The thing is, of course, Diego is easily bored and hates being by himself. As the days pass, he is running out of things to do besides drinking, literally talking to himself, and – err – taking matters in hand. Then he starts to hear things beyond himself, which eventually start to manifest (shades of Gerald’s Game). Is this an evil spirit or, as Diego’s lonely cabin fever insanity grows, something else? There are quite a few spooky moments, and a lot of humorous ones. Moments come and go quite quickly, so it’s good to pay attention to what is being said as well as what is happening.  Definitely worth a view.
Full film HERE 

 

First Bite
Directed by Vincenzo Nappi
Canux Pictures
6:10 minutes, 2020
Would a bathroom in a venue housing a metal concert be anything less than disgusting, even in charming and beautiful Montreal? That doesn’t stop lovely Alex (Catherine Saindon) from driving the porcelain bus after an incident that will change her life. Her friend, Olivia (Hana Kashaf) is concerned outside the door. All of the action happens within the bathroom, or just beyond its entrance way, but still manages to avoid feeling too claustrophobic. At some point, you see the ending coming, but that does not stop it from being perfectly charming in its horror. The effects look good, as does the lead, and though this isn’t a deep introspective that will leave you wondering, it will instead be short, sweet, and satisfactory in the best sense.|
Full film HERE 

 

Halloween Spirit
Directed by John H. Shelton
5:04 minutes, 2021
Rather than a narrative tale, this is more of a mood piece, as various narrators read poetic renderings about the coming of the Halloween holiday with hushed voices and malevolent, flat (Ƅ) tones. With ghouls and goblins in the air and witches stirring their pots preparing, we see images of Halloween lawn ornaments, leaf covered trails through the wood with some fun Instagram-type filters imposed, and even a clip from Shelton’s previous short film, “The Crimson Video” (2020). It’s dark and whimsical at the same time.
Full film HERE 

 

Killing Floor – A Murderer Speaks
Directed by Henrique Couto
New Dynamic
9:37 minutes, 2020
www.patreon.com/Incrediblyhandsome
Based on a play by Andy Copp, a court-sanctioned psychiatrist (Couto stalwart John Hembrick, with a goatee!) is assigned to assess McCraken (Jeremy Rhynes), in prison, to see if he is mentally culpable. If not, does that mean they will Release the McCraken? Sorry… Anyway, the reason for the assessment is that McCraken claims he is possessed by a demon, and discusses his youth in third-person (i.e., “he” instead of “I”). He turns the tables and starts to interrogate the doctor, seeming to know more about him than the doc is willing to admit even to himself. Could this alleged supernatural monster be finding the human monster in the doc? The film is essentially the two of them talking. Rhymes carefully spits out his words and Hembrick emotionally runs scared well. Despite the lack of physical action, just the two of them talking is tense, like the talks between Hannibal and Clarise in The Silence of the Lambs (1991). The fun of the film is watching the cat and mouse between them, but of course, the question must be asked, which is the cat and who is the mouse.
Full film HERE 

Killing Time
Directed by Scott Lake
HMF Productions; Romero Pictures Indie Brigade
16:43 minutes, 2019
www.mdb.com/title/tt10703630/?ref_=tt_mv_close  
Co-produced and co-written by George C. Romero, son of George A. Romero, this horror-kinda sci-fi sort of fits well with George A.’s canon. I could go into some other films that I can see as precursors or influences, but I won’t because it would give too much away. In the middle of the night, a masked man appears in a house, where he seems quite familiar. He takes some questionable actions (such as removing his gloves, among others), and then does unspeakable deeds that, again, I will not reveal, but it is quite shocking. He wakes the male house occupant, Ethan (Jay Allen Tucker) and then the sci-fi part starts. I’m purposely being vague because, with a short, it is very easy to give away too much. I figured out a major part of it, but not the motivation or the how. With the droning help of the music by Bastard Sons of a Judas Goat (great name) that sounds a lot like Dario Argento’s Goblin, the tension is kept taught, and even though filmed in an unlit house, the visuals are pretty clear. Nicely creepy, unexpectedly violent, and mildly bloody, considering the per capita body count. Worth a view (as of this publishing, it is on the festival circuit).
Trailer TBD

 

Waffle
Directed by Carlyn Hudson
10:58 minutes, 2020
www.waffletheshort.com/
In this Internet-based age, one can purchase just about anything, even a best friend – for a set time and a fee. Lonely and wacky waffle heiress Katie (Katie Marovich) has such an arrangement with Kerry (Kerry Barker). But, of course, in this horror comedy, things aren’t all they seem to be. With quite a few twists and turns, we learn that we are unsure of whatever happened to Katie’s parents, and she seems to be confident to getting her way. Her and Kerry’s sleepover gets darker and darker as the night wears on, and the viewer may wonder, who is the one who is in danger here, and what relationship is real? It’s all answered by the end (filled with ‘80s style synth music), and it’s very satisfying. Marovich and Barker wrote the film, and their experience shows, as they are popular on the CollegeHumor website. What is nice is that there is no time wasted, and all 11 minutes, including the credits, are attention grabbers.
Full film HERE