Horrorman1428
In the age of throwbacks, this short film exceeds the rather middle of the way bar that other self proclaimed fanboys have set with full length features. The writer/director, Patrick Clement, has done more in 15 minutes than most can do with a fully fleshed out script. The acting was surprisingly good, as was the score. The film left me wanting more and didn't meander into the realm of overstaying it's welcome. This film is a synth-laced hymn praising the undertones of Carrie with it's feet toeing the atmosphere of Lucky McKee's film, May. A real treat for fans of the ambiguous and dreamlike nature of a visionary's passion project.Kudos to all involved.
troyheard
I loved every second of this 1970s throwback. It reminded me of the gems you'd find broadcast as the NBC Movie of the Week. The acting was fine, the atmosphere was effective and the music was much better than most found in short independent films. Several reviewers have suggested an expanded feature adaptation - I second that.In full disclosure, I received a screener copy of the film from the director. When it arrived via U.S. Mail as a VHS clamshell complete with $1.00 Rental Sticker and a bonus audio cassette (that looked just like the RCA titles I used to see at Tower Records) I was skeptical. So much authenticity usually creates a hype that isn't often achieved.I'm happy to say I was pleasantly surprised, and I look forward to more from this creative team.
jaywalker-77863
I think this short has potential for a longer full-length film. The premise, soundtrack, cinematography are all pretty on-point, and as a proclaimed 'psychological thriller', it does check all the boxes.
The dismissive and demanding mother seemed a bit far-fetched, as the only interactions with her daughter are brief, entirely dismissive, and aggressively commanding - which sells the storyline for sure, but felt a bit forced in execution.
The Father Gary character was bizarre to the point of humorous, which I'm not entirely sure was the intent, but his final spiel was highly amusing. Developed into a fuller feature this film has a lot of potential to really paint the characters, shed light on their backstories, and really develop the plot in a more substantial and suspenseful way. I was left with a handful of questions though. Was this a hallucination? Was this all a metaphor for angsty teenage lust and overbearing religious parenting? How did the lead character end up offing the temptress? As weird as this may sound, I feel that newer horror films tend to really embrace the "pan away from the kill" technique, as opposed to the old splatter-fests to which they supposedly pay homage. Fun short overall, definitely worth the watch, and kept me entertained for the duration. I think there is a lot of potential here for this to develop a stronger plot line, explain some backstory, delve into some more psychological twists, and even add in some gore to keep viewers on edge.
For as short as it is, and the intent of the film though, this certainly hits the marks.
