Review: Pelt

Text (c) Richard Gary / Indie Horror Films, 2013
Images from the Internet

Pelt
Written and directed by Rowan Spiers-Floyd
11:04, 2012
www.pelt-the-film.com

A lot can be said in a film this short, especially under a skillfull hand.  Director and writer Rowan Spiers-Floyd accomplishes this goal in just over 11 minutes and three key actors. True, this is a student film (and an award-winning one at that), but it shows a masterful eye on many levels.

Self-described as a “dark fairy tale,” the story takes place in the period of the expansion of the West. We are presented with a mysterious tale of greed, fear and cowardliness.  In a wilderness fort, two men go a-huntin’ for, well, pelts on a winter’s day. The setting and effect of the film is enhanced by its locale, Fort Clatsop at the Lewis and Clark National Historic Park, located in Astoria, Oregon.  Seen in mostly medium shots, it has a nearly claustrophobic feel, even though much of it was filmed outdoors. The lighting and the mood is key, and Spiers-Floyd uses it to its utmost.  Whether you find the story scary or not, it’s shadowy and strange atmosphere is effective.

Davis, Newman and Eastwood

During their expedition, the two come across an animal carcass. When Fredrick (Jeffree Newman) asks Rufus (Adam Elliot Davis) if he can keep the pelt so he can afford to marry Rose (Jennifer Eastwood), the woman Rufus also desires, well, it doesn’t go well for the requestor.  Okay, let me digress here and posit that what I am stating here is in the description, so I’m not being a “spoiler.”

This is where the film takes a turn for the strange.  First Nations/Native American tales tell of creatures in the woods called a skinwalker (sometimes identified as a windigo), who were known for being able to take on other appearances. The creature is never named in the story, nor even explained, but that doesn’t matter; what is important is the flow of events that follow.

Spiers-Floyd is certainly helped by his actors, who do not either under- or overplay their roles despite the dramatic and supernatural undertones.  I also acknowledge and like the double-entrendre of the title.

The film looks beautiful, with crisp shots thanks to Page Stephenson, and clean editing that seems to take classic lengths of time rather than the staccato post-MTV method. It gives you a chance to read and feel the subject’s emotions, without telling you what you are supposed to get out of it.

I look forward to Spiers-Floyd’s output. If this is a beginning BFA (Bachelor of Fine Arts) project, just think what he may be able to do with a budget and the ability to work on something full-length.    

The video can be found free HERE

Two Short Films by Mike Tack: One Careful Owner; The Domestic

Text © Richard Gary / Indie Horror Films, 2013
Images from the Internet

One Careful Owner

12 minutes, 2013
The Domestic
8 minutes, 2013                                    
Both written and directed by Mike Tack
Apocalyptic Conservatory Studios
www.youtube.com/user/miketackisgod

Mike Tack is a new director on the scene, and as in the case of many others going for the solid reputation (i.e., serious films, rather than comedies or “quickies”), he is starting off small, with some shorts to use to gain backing for a full feature. Something tells me that it could well happen based on what I see here.

Considering the length of these two excursions, Tack manages to get the most of his stories and actors. His pace is consistently strong, his editing even, and the films look better than most. They are both dark tales involving some form of social justice to the extreme.

The reasoning for the comeuppance is plausible, but the extreme measures taken is what will get your attention. The intense and excessive level of violence and gore, shown in detail, is what will get these films noticed as much as the reason, the story, or the director’s skill. It’s amazing what can be done with a rubber band, a Q-Tip, or even a chisel. The carnage is realistic, the intent is to inflict harm, and the thrill given to the viewer is, well, that depends on your “winch” level. Mine is high, but I still squirmed at certain instances. That is credit towards this Kent, UK, director’s aptitude behind the camera.

In One Careful Owner, it’s easy to tell who the intended target is, and from the first scene, you know he has it coming. The why and how is what will grab your attention. Who doesn’t want a scuzzy used car dealer to see the error of his ways, especially if you’ve dealt with an unctuous one (I’ve been pretty lucky, but I digress…). However, we don’t learn why the focus of The Domestic is getting the treatment until much later on, but I guarantee it’ll stick with you and make you think twice. Because we don’t know the circumstances of the actions until the conclusion, it separates the reason from the harsh physical actions, making the encounter all the more “squishy.”

It would be easy to call this the now generic coinage “torture porn,” but because of the competence of the filmmaking, especially for a relative beginner, this elevates the releases to a higher level. Okay, The Domestic has very little other than the abuse until the O Henryism, so this may fall more into this category, but the emotions raised and the level of character development in the short period of One Careful User is what takes this to a higher level.

I have two hopes for Tack, given these two shorts. First, I wish him well in getting the funding needed for present us a full length film. I’m interested in what he does with the time between the red stuff. Second, I’m hoping he keeps making shorts because I know I would enjoy seeing his progression from film to film, considering his growth between these two, which made within a year of each other.

 

The complete The Domestic

One Careful Owner Trailer
http://youtu.be/byCviB13p_E

Short Film Review: 15-05-08

Text © Richard Gary / Indie Horror Films, 2013
Images from the Internet

15-05-08

Directed by Nikki Chatwin
16:51 minutes, 2013
Sick Bunny Pictures

Using a found-footage framework, this spankin’ new British short is shot entirely in night-vision mode, as we watch a couple of couples hanging out and looking out the window at a house across the street that is supposed to be empty, but apparently lights occasionally turn on and off. They’re half-jokingly hoping it’s something mysterious, perhaps a serial killer.

As with most found footage films, the first section is expository, as we follow the four around an upstairs room, and they muse while filming each other and the shadowy house of question. They muse on the happenings, giving more of an impression that we’re watching a Paranormal homage.

This part is necessary, but the action start to really pick up a bit after a while, as one of them goes down the stairs to investigate a noise. The night vision is particularly effective here, because you can only see part of what is in front of the camera. With the creaking floors and the technical shorting in and out of the image, it is effectively tense and unnerving. I definitely jumped a couple of times.

Where the story is going to end up after 10 minutes in is not any major surprise, but getting there is what keeps your attention.  My only real complaint is that the film is dark, making it hard to see on the computer screen. Sure, found footage has been done, and then done, and then done again, but because this is such a short film, it keeps it from getting tiresome, and works well. I’m not sure why they don’t just turn the lights on in their own house, but pfffft, whatever, since this is a nice rollercoaster ride.

Plus, the film is free on YouTube, and linked below:  

 

Indie Short Review: 2 Hours

Text © Richard Gary / Indie Horror Films, 2013
Free link to view complete film below review
Images from the Internet

 

2 Hours
Directed, shot and cut by Michael Ballif                                      
26 minutes, 2012             
2hoursthemovie.com

Apparently, from the time one is bitten by a zombie, it takes two hours for the virus to course through the victims system until succumbing and then becoming one. This is the premise of this totally serious zombie genre short that is nothing short of beautifully done.

While feeling guilty about the death of his girlfriend (Brooke Hemsath, who recurs in guilt- and feverish-flashback fashion) the Survivor (Josh Merrill, who also wrote the piece) goes through forests and ruined cities hoping to find a group of other survivors before becoming zombie feeder fodder. Problem is, he has been bit, and has just two hours to find the group and hope they have a cure.

There are some interesting dual aspects to this film. One is that the zombies are both slow and fast. They stumble around looking for victims, but when one is spotted, man, can they run. They’re a bit clumsy on their feet, but they will run you down.

Another duality is the fluidity of that sometimes the film is seamlessly shot as third person, and other times in first person, even looking a bit like a shooter video game.

While the Survivor (as he is named in the credits) silently  and desperately searches for the others while avoiding marauding flesh eaters (more Romero-esk all organ diners, rather than just the cliché brains), we hear his thoughts as the virus slowly but surely starts nibbling at his rationale.

While his deterioration is what makes the core of the film, the visuals are actually quite impressive, with beautiful as well as ugly landscapes, wonderful make-up and gore effects, and for once hand-held camerawork that doesn’t make you want to barf like the Survivor.

Considering the low-budget, small crew, two-year filming timeframe, and all shot on a $500 Canon T2i DSLR, I’m still not surprised this is sopping up Festival awards left and right. Not only do I recommend this, you can watch it just by clicking on the link below. Scary to think what Ballif could do with an actual budget. Kudos, dude.

 

And be sure you stick around after the credits...