Horror Shorts Reviews for April 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 usually not review a film that is unlisted, and I have seen a few good
ones that I had to give a pass. Usually, I do not review films (unless
requested) that appear on sites like Alter and Screamfest, because they have a
known platform, which is great, while I would rather focus on films with no
affiliations.
After Hours
Directed by Isaac Ruth
Ruthless Stories
8:40 minutes, 2021
Many of us have worked such long hours that we have fallen asleep at our
desks (if that is the kind of position had). So, what is a woman to do when it
is late at night and you are the only one in the office/building when weird things
start happening, like power turning off, doppelgangers popping in and out, and jerking
creatures that look to be right out of an Asian ghost story? That is the
predicament in which we find our protagonist (Christine Renaud, who has come to
some recognition as Darby Double on ”Wandavision”). Someone or something keeps
popping up as she frighteningly tries her best to hide from whomever or
whatever it is that is invading her space. There is no explanation given as to why
this is happening (perhaps a personification of an overwrought work habit?),
but hell, it is a short, so exposition is not a necessary factor; long
enough to keep the thrill going, and short enough not to wear out its welcome.
It’s a chilling tale, especially for those of us who put in long hours. Good,
clean, spooky-enjoyment with no dialogue.
Full film HERE
Boss Bitch
Fight Challenge
Directed by Zoë Bell
Zoë Bell YouTube Channel
5:17 minutes, 2020
Zoë Bell is probably the best-known stunt person on the globe today,
thanks to her work with Tarantino and on the MCU. And what is a poor stunt
person to do during a lockdown? She has brilliantly brought in a whole bunch of
her Hollywood and stunt women friends to assault each other via camera in some
funny, thrilling, and compelling ways. Each segment is a few seconds long and
the subject attacks the camera, which in turn “affects” whomever is next,
linking it into a flow, rather than being unconnected bits. Who is in it? Well,
here is a small list of a much larger contribution: Lucy Lawless, Scarlett
Johansson, Margo Robbie (using a bat, of course), Rosie Perez, Drew Barrymore,
Juliette Lewis, Cameron Diaz, Rosario Dawson (doing her infamous down kick),
Florence Pugh (from Midsommar, whose piece is hilarious), Daryl Hannah,
Thandie Newton, Halle Berry (!), and that’s not even a quarter of the cast.
People are thrown into pools, down stairs, flying across the room (on wires),
and even have their kids seek revenge. It’s cartoonishly ultraviolent punching,
kicking and other means of assault, but it will have you laughing all the way
through. Sure, it’s not horror, but I would classify it as action. And it’s
non-stop. There are lots of inside jokes, and Zoë even gets to use her “I’m
okay” line from Death Proof (2007).
Full film HERE
Bump in the
Night
Directed by Jonathan
Everett
Mad Tabby Films
8:10 minutes,
2021
If you follow any Facebook horror page, you will know there is always a
debate on which genre is scarier. That is the lowest denominator of this story.
A young wife, Holly (Netty Leach) is fond of true crime. Her husband, Nathan
(Jared Carter) believes it is the supernatural. A nice conversation to have,
albeit brief, at bedtime. Of course, as the night progresses, events discussed
begin to transpire to test the theories in their lives. Both these characters
are likeable, which makes the events to occur even more profound (without
sinking into morosity). It is well shot in a meat and ‘taters sort of way, and
it kept the tension up throughout. Nicely done and a truly fun watch.
Full film HERE
The Chrysalis
Directed by Michael
Squid
Mr. Michael Squid
YouTube Channel
9:21 minutes, 2020
No, this does not have anything to do with the Record Label that put out
Blondie’s first and best album. Here, we are introduced to Adam (Aidan
Laliberte, who was excellent as the lead in Long Night in a Dead City in
2017; reviewed HERE), a man who has taken time off of work to help out
with his dementia-ladened mother, Wendy (Kathryn G. Howell), who is a retired
entomologist. She’s been acting weird beyond the senility. Something is bugging
her to the point where she is standing over her sleeping son with a knife at
one point. This film shows quite an amount of style and finesse; I love one
shot especially, where Adam wants to talk to Wendy, and there is a close-up of
her putting down her oatmeal spoon very precisely. This has won numerous
awards, and I am certainly not surprised. It is excellent short filmmaking, and
deserves what it gets.
Full film HERE
Mask
Directed by Jacob
Arbittier
Burnt Mill Road
4:45 minutes, 2021
The killer in a clown mask is a trope that has done to death, but
Arbittier takes a new look at it that is quite interesting, into the mask
itself. I don’t want to give too much away, but in the less-than five minutes
we meet the three people in the story, a lot of carnage and supernatural
surprises are in store. The SFX looks really decent (not overly bloody, but
still unnerving) in a way that makes this a fun and brief watch. I could,
however, see this as a prelude to a feature.
Full film HERE
Moonlit
Requiem
Directed by Arthur S.
Edelman
Somnia Films
16:00 minutes, 2020
In the rural UK, Harry (Daniel J. Hickson) is bringing home his new
bride, jill (Angharad L. Ford), to meet his family for the first time. His mom,
Mary (Deirdre Forrest) is crisp but welcoming, and his dad, John (KC Flanagan)
is straight out of the Onslow character from “Keeping Up Appearances” (1990-95).
Apparently, Jill picked the wrong time to marry this dude because the universe
is aligning for a special pagan ritual (as these cinematic rural Brits are wont
to do), and you know it is not going to be favorable towards Jill. I mean, the
word Requiem is even in the title, but... So, the obvious connection is
to Ready or Not (2019), even though there are big differences here, and
you can also link to other influences like Midsommar (2019) and The
Wicker Man (1973) for the cult aspect, but this does go in an unexpected
direction just when you think you have it nailed. The film is just long enough
to get you engaged with the characters without too much exposition, and short
enough to perhaps catch the viewer by surprise. It is beautifully shot in a
dark, cramped farm house, and you feel for the characters. My one supposition,
and I could be wrong, is that the uncredited violin player at the end is a
cameo by the director? Anyway, this is a really nice film and well worth the
quarter hour.
Trailer HERE
Somniphobia
Directed by Dillion
Vibbart
Silver Hero
Entertainments; Ninja Brothers
25:06 minutes, 2021
Poor lovely Ryley Rose (Tatjana Marjanovic). She’s been having
nightmares where a ghoul is mistreating her; she even has the bruises in the
morning to prove it. But her boyfriend, Brian (Atticus Hinckley) doesn’t
believe her, though he is willing to take her to Dr. Brady (Chris Attoh), 12
hours away. The doctor supposedly has the ability to enter dreams and see what’s
going on. Problem is, he is retired from the biz. Ryley is desperate, and tries
to convince him otherwise. We all know what’s going to happen in that sitch. The
film is beautifully laid out, building up to the ending with some splendid SFX
make-up by Melanie “MJ” Dubarr throughout. There are a few ”Tales From the Crypt”-like
side stories, and in fact this whole episode would fit well into that series. No
blood or gore, just good storytelling and a bunch of ghosties and ghoulies to
liven (deaden?) it up. This is an excellently done short, and the twist at the
end certainly makes it even better.
Full film HERE
Sweet Revenge
Directed by Ron
Millkie
Scrudato
Productions
7:49 minutes, 2019
I truly love it when an actor, known for a horror role, decides to
direct, as did Millkie, who was Officer Dorf in the original 1980 Friday the
13th (and will be a sheriff in the upcoming His Name Was Jason: A Friday
the 13th Fan Film). This is his directorial debut, according to IMBD. For
this story, we are introduced to milquetoast-iish Luke (Nicholas M. Garafolo),
who years before gave testimony that put Jim (Phillip Pitta) in prison. But now
Luke has received a phone call from the newly paroled Jim, who is out for revenge.
Between semi-caring police and a nosy and bossy landlord looking for rent (Susanna
Sudami), nerdy Luke is understandably shaken. Shot in real time, we witness the
events that occur to Luke. While Garafolo has a long resume of films, for both
Pitta and Sudami, this is their only credit, and it shows. The story is quite
basic with a possible jump scare, it is bare bones as far as story and plot,
which is fine for a short. I liked that Millkie took it a bit beyond where this
would probably normally end, and did a nice editing montage and a short postscript.
While it most likely will not win any awards, it is quite enjoyable to watch,
and hopefully Millkie will get a chance to push his envelope more.
Full film HERE
Tyakt
Directed by Pratik
Singh
Do Not Blink and Team
12:09 minutes, 2020
In Hindi, the language of this film, the title means “derelict” (as in
duty, or person). A woman (Surbhi Talodia) gets picked up by a travel agency
driver (Pratik Singh, who also directed) for a 350K/220 miles trip (I’m
guessing to another means of long-distance transportation, though she only has
a backpack and a romance novel, “A Cocktail of Love,” by Mayank Sharma). He
also picks up another listed passenger, a grumpy older gent (Bubbley Deshbandhu).
Apparently, there is a significant short-cut down a deserted road that the
woman insists they take to save quite a bit of time. It seems, a young woman
was killed there and the story goes that late at night, she kills men in
revenge. This is a nice take on the many abuse women are known to take in India
(honor killings, “lust,” spurning advances, etc.). The woman is naturally
uncomfortable being in the car with these two men, so she wants to get to her
destination as fast as possible. Of course, spooky things happen, which are
added to for a double whammy. Considering that the whole film takes place in a
car, it contained my attention, even with reading captions. There is an indication
of a sequel. I hope so.
Full film HERE
Your Coffee
Drinks You
Directed by Andrew
Daugherty
Silver Hero
Entertainment
3:10 minutes, 2020
This seems to be based on the old axiom, “You use technology, and then
the technology uses you.” For this short, brought to you in the COVID art era
by the Daugherty family (cast and crew), we meet an older woman (meant
respectfully, Patricia) who is – take a guess – making and having a cup o’
java. But something is definitely off, thanks to some nice SFX work, which made
me smile. Even if you somewhat see the ending coming, it’s very satisfying. It
seems to me like a new look at an old trope (usually using light and shadow in
an apartment), which makes this even more watchable. It is so recommended; I’ll
give you only one guess as to what I did after watching it…
Full film HERE
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