Horror Short: Ave Maria (2013)

Written and directed by Skip Shea
Staring Aurora Gabrill & David Graziano
Director of Photography Nolan Yee

A clergy man abides his sentence from three women in the woods, as a recording of Ave Maria drowns his screams. Skip Shea's Ave Maria is an eloquent twine of gore, music, and enacted karma. It's a pair to Shea's acclaimed Microcinema and in that the two are both lovely masterpieces that speak of violence in our society. There's no dialogue, the six minute run time a symphony of music and constructed torture. Shea as a director understands the appropriation of blood in a film and doesn't opt to show more than necessary. Though he is guilty we are never witnesses to the clergy man's crimes as Shea trusts the audience to display the revenge first and unveil the fulsome truth later. 

Aurora Gabrill returns as Missy, the white masked crusader of justice, whom is our anti-heroine, if you so will. Gabrill again plays a brave part in an unconventional female character in cinema, horror and non alike. Cinematography speaks for itself as it's balefully set in midst of the woods, the beautiful view of nature to timid the cringing horror. It will make a few squeal in its single act of violence but is a simple, beautiful piece to add to a collection of interesting works. In tradition of his works Ave Maria will not be for everyone as the religious text and the film's bizarre approach will off-put some, but for a horror aficionado it rings unique and gorgeous, leaving enough for the viewers imagination but volunteering enough visually to leave you averse and fascinated. Ave Maria is a lovely edition from the director that I suggest is best watched as a double feature to its more masculine counter Microcinema. However the feminine side of this story stands on its own and must be seen regardless if you liked the prior.

Ave Maria will be making its way around film festivals so watch for it. You can follow the director and its star on twitter for updates.

Horror Short: Somebody to Love (2013)

Written by Mark A.C. Brown
Directed by Phil Haine
Starring Alex Hughes and Natasha Staples
Director of Photography Tom Seal

Love has found Sebastian, it just wasn't the love he was expecting. A doleful, albeit unsettling, tale about a necrophiliacs failed marriage to his dead bride is both interesting and unnerving in its unusual portrait of the broken heart. Somebody to Love takes a horror body but has a romantic soul with its introspective on a human's instinct to love but how often that proves more difficult than none, as our expectations rarely align with reality. The eleven minute short is of the quieter side of horror and doesn't use any common staples of the genre. It plays out more as a drama as it shows us a life between Sebastian and his bride similar to any other marriage. The exception is Sebastian's growing unhappiness in his new life and that none of it is real. The presence of fear lies in Sebastian's actions that appear loving and normal at the exterior but are all lined with the concept that his retrieved bride is dead for the entire length of their marriage, and therefore every thing is in actuality really creepy. The happy life is the shadow that masks the true nature of Sebastian and his world.

The script is solid with a dialogue that sounds appropriate to the content and subject of the short. And directing in likes to that is strong overall. Alex Hughes as Sebastian is played well as his character is often loving and disturbed at the same time, Hughes seamlessly blends the two characteristics with ease. Though Hughes may be the lead the show is stolen by Natasha Staples who plays the wifey part all too well. She's both lovely and forceful in her right as his newlywed bride and commands most of the screen with her performance. Together both have chemistry and despite that they look like a Twilight Zone couple they respond off each other well and it ultimately comes off as convincing. The cinematography and music are both favorable assests to the film as they capture the tone perfectly. Between the angelic lighting on un-dead Cassandra to the weird techno score that plays as the two are with each other intimately for the first time it keeps up with every pace of the script. I have a partiality to genre films that tell real issue stories through horror and that's what Somebody to Love is. There's a feeling of dejection as most of us are all too familiar with the misguided love; the film comes to terms and coopes with this by telling a love story about a man who finds unhappiness even in his most dark and twisted fantasies. I fully recommend Somebody to Love as it's a fantastic short with a warped heart.

Somebody to Love is making its way around film festivals but if you'd like to watch it you can contact BraineHownd Films on their facebook, twitter, or at their site.

Horror Short: Her Heart Still Beats (2011)

Directed by Christopher Di Nunzio
Staring Fiore Leo and Leighsa Burgin
Director of Photography James Sullivan

When a husband looks into his wife's eyes one day and to him they've suddenly changed he becomes paranoid with the sense that something isn't quite right with her while also teetering on whether he's sane or not. Based on Edgar Allan Poe's classic horror of madness "The Tall Tale Heart", Her Heart Still Beats is a suitable modern take that captures the maniacal nerve of the original character. The story traces along the edges of its original inspiration but spares a few details differently and ultimately pays off as a update. There's an askewed effect as the differences in the two materials can set you off, but no additional content really feels out of place in the story, just an extension of the directors vision. The character in Poe's work is indicated that his urge to kill the man with the vulture eye was a test of time where as Nunzio's character is seemingly fit with a burst of mania at no explanation. Because of this it plays out a little rough at first but smooths itself out later in the half hour run time and works as an anchor for the film's hitch. 

There's no real way around it as I have to be honest but I was not a fan of the acting. I felt the main character was forced and played way too over the top, though other reviews have praised his expressions and intensity. As where the rest of the cast was bland but not necessarily bad, however no one in particular stood out. It's a matter of perspective though and you may judge for yourself. As I praised the idea of the script there's faults in there too as the basic dialogue was a little weak. However the exception was Nunzio's decision to include the original haunting dialect of the character in Poe's story at the beginning and end of the film that attributes to the strength of the concept. It added an extra chill to the madness and is an ode of Poe's words. Cinematography is adaquete, there's a few nice shots and the overall set design mimics a modern married couples home. Her Heart Still Beats is a quality adaption on the Master of the Macabre's most famous work and is thoroughly recommened by me.

Her Heart Still Beats will be streaming this fall and will also be available on DVD. Keep updated at the film's production company's site http://www.creepykidproductions.com/index.php.

I have quite a bit of short films to review but I always care to mention that if your interested in me reviewing your film send it to me at bleedingdead22@yahoo.com.

Horror Short: 15.05.08 (2013)

Directed by Nikki Chatwin
Written by Nikki Chatwin & Jason Chatwin
Staring Scarlett Sibson, Fern Chatwin, & Tim Wilson
Camera Operators Nikki Chatwin & Jason Chatwin

A police recovered video tape reveals the final moments of four young people who's curious spying on the neighbors house brings a chilling terror into their home. The short film is a compilation of modern horror concepts, most familiarly the home video camera and always unsettling plastic masked killer, that will best appeal to those who enjoy home invasion thrillers. The sixteen minute run is pallid with blood but replete with suspense, the latter holding the chill of the film. The likely killer that will turn off most is the idea isn't all that original with minor characters that you never really get to meet. With saying that though the execution is done well and while its an additive to the ever growing found footage film collections its a really good one at that.

With exceptions the found footage genre is best done when no money is provided to you, in that the scares feel more authentic. 15.05.08 has this asset best to its viewing as the natural chemistry of the cast (likely all friends and family) with the shaky cam makes it feel like a real youtube video, and I don't mean that offensively. Though its noted that despite an overall average sub-genre use of the camera there are a few unique and creative shots that I quite liked seeing. There's no exception here in questionable character motives but its a facet of horror that I just accept. The script may not be all that original but it's really the production and the direction here that make the film a pleasant viewing. 15.05.08 is a chilling little short film that will appease those who love the genre type and is an overall good late night watch.

You can watch 15.05.08 for free on youtube. If you have a short film your interested in having reviewed you may send it to me at bleedingdead22@yahoo.com.

Horror Short: The Devils Walks Among You (2011)

Written and directed by Ryan M. Andrews
Staring Robert Nolan, Sandra DaCosta, and Katie Uhlmann
Director of Photography Fraser Brown

Alluring and mysterious Lilith Mastema tells of tales in her live spoken word show, showcasing a classic old jazz style to her stage. Tonight's tale is of a late night diner that receives an elliptic customer after closing, whom later reveals himself to be the Devil. The Devil Walks Among You is a short, 8 min run time, thriller that doesn't dwell on literal horror. Unlike you expect the Devil doesn't enter the dinner and upon doing so raises 'hell' but rather in an subtle yet haunting etiquette chills you to the bone with his simple message of walking among us. Often fit with short films is the grab or rather the shock and awe moment, but Andrews script and direction risks for a tame story that flows fealty into its disquieting end. Basically, don't expect an abundance of blood but anticipate a quiet thriller that's more about the essence of horror rather than the incarnation of it.

Robert Nolan again comes in as the sly but ever so charming Devil, another expo in the actors unbound talent. Sandra DaCosta is stunning, a fitting portrait for her cool lounge character as her voice narrates the story with a chilled ease. Ryan M. Andrews direction is crisp and there's little pitfalls in his overall well made short. I may like the style of the film the most though, with the interweave of the 1950's diner and early 1930's lounge den. As a lot of the shots, especially those showing DaCosta, are up close it limits the view of the sets making the photography key in conveying the tone. The detailed design of the diner is accurate in its depiction and the mood lighting in both sets captures the feel. The diner under gray florescent sets you off balance and the lounge is dimmed to tense and focus the mood. Although I rarely do I'd also like to note the costume department who I think dressed their cast appropriately, letting way to more of the characters personalities. The Devil Walks Among You was an enjoyable, well made horror short, that I'd recommend to most for its appreciated style and familiar concept.

Horror Short: Out of the Night (2013)

Written and directed by Skip Shea
Staring Gwendolyn Callahan
Director of Photography William Smyth

Lost in a sullen neighborhood a wealthy woman is lured out of her car by falling hundred dollar bills, despite the shadows she's seen skulking in the fog. Out of the Night is similar in Shea's previous short film, Microcinema, in that it uses its events as an analogy for a more deeper understandings of the human condition. As voyeurism and obsession was the topic of the former the latter helms topics of greed, desire, and how in light we view strangers. The woman in the film is lost, scared, and likely at the other end of the tracks, however her lust of money leads her out into the night to gain more wealth even with the figures hidden in the fog. Of course for those who don't look so deeply the surface level horror is done well with the fear of being lost at play as well as the sense of dislocation. We never find out where the wealthy woman has wander off too, whether it be an odd neighborhood or some city of the afterlife.

Shea has a way of taking our expectations as an audience as well as the expectations of the character to offer us a different alternative. His films have a knack for unveiling the illusions of reality and exposing the often brutal truth. Not all is so bleak as Shea's dark humor is subtly placed in the film, mostly near the end. Gwendolyn Callahan is great, her role consists of no dialogue but her often lurid expressions fill in that utter terror of being lost in a neighborhood that vastly differs from her own. The score was taunt, lucidly attendant to the chilling atmosphere that's been set. The photography is simply gorgeous, utilizing classic black and white. There's a really exceptional image of Callahan vanishing into the fog; it fluently lacing around her, dissolving her figure into the darkness. I really liked Out of the Night, however it was a film I had to watch a few times to fully grasps the concept. In that I do recommend with a little hesitation as this film will likely go over a few people's head. But if your like me and you love reading into horror with deeper meanings than I'd say don't miss it.

Out of the Night will premiere at the SENE Film, Arts & Music Festival on Sunday April 28th at the Cable Car Theater in Providence, Rhode Island. For more information you can visit - http://www.senefest.com/dramatic-short-films.html

Horror Short: The Prospectors Curse (2012)

Written and directed by Josh Heisie
Staring Dave Roberts, Johnny Quinn, and Robert Nolan
Director of Photography Michael Jari Davidson

When a dim-witted local and a money hungry salesman come across a dying prospector in the woods, his last wish is for a proper Christian burial. Despite the local's intention the salesman convinces him to leave the dead man in the woods and pursue his land for gold, causing a hellacious hillbilly revenge. The Prospectors Curse is the hillbilly sanction of hell where humor, horror, and the goldrush are the layers of the inferno. Josh Heisie's film has an easy flow with a natural amusement, not contrived as is often the freight with horror comedies. The production is sound with noteworthy mention to the makeup, The Prospector was both dire and delightful which tied the horror into the plot. The classic revenge of the ghost is compassed with an almost zombie like approach, as he looks more to the undead than as a spirit.

Dave Roberts and Johnny Quinn fit to their caricatures well and don't overplay the exaggeration. Robert Nolan plays The Prospector with a menacing glee, the character actor is again great in his small part and on his way to becoming the next Brad Dourif of the horror genre. Michael Jari Davidson is a talented DP, having done previous work on another film I enjoyed, Familiar, and continues the same dark but slick style in this. The Prospector's Curse is actually the first film in an anthology of films that take focus to different era's of B-horror. For a sub-genre that I'm familiar with only in part, I really quite liked Heisie's sophomore film, leaving me excited for the next installments that are genres I comfortably know. If you get a chance to see The Prospector's Curse don't hesitate as it's a fun fifteen minute watch for any horror fan.

The trailer may be seen below. You can watch for updates on the film's facebook page or at its website.

Horror Short: Foodie (2012)

Directed by Christopher G. Moore
Written by Christopher G. Moore and Eryk Pruitt
Staring Nick Karner, David Berberian, and Alena Koch
Director of Photography Ismail Abdelkhalek

When Mueller gets invited to Kitchen X, an elite dinner party that only invites select members, his excitement is only matched to his avidity to food. As promised the dinner brings a unique experience unlike anything Mueller is prepared for, literally. Foodie is a quirky, albeit uneasy film about a food lover's nightmare. The thirty minute short could easily be an episode from Tales From the Crypt, or any horror anthology show for that matter, as it shares the same macabre sense of humor. It's almost like someones odd unbecoming nightmare as horrible things occur yet everyone is cheery, which makes it all the more unnerving. The gore is tended and used fittingly throughout the short, most effectively at the end.

Writers Eryk Pruitt and Christopher G. Moore use a couple of classic horror scenarios and build an original plot around them. Moore depicts the tone of the film without effort, intuit to the appropriate balance between the black humor and the horror. As well as divulging into the bizarre world of food lovers, capturing the language and mannerisms to fine detail. I really enjoyed the opening credits as it sets you up perfectly for what your about to see. The music was equally on key with the film as the original score and selected tracks are used to set you off. The set design though is a bit pallid in comparison to the oddity of the film and the cinematography as equally lacking. Not to attest that they're poor by any means but rather didn't have the level of creativity the other aspects of the film had. I'd easily recommend Foodie as a horror comedy watch, the premise should keep you interested and the end results isn't dissatisfying. You can purchase Foodie on DVD at the film's site, foodie-themovie.com.

If your interested in me viewing your short film please contact me at my email bleedingdead22@yahoo.com. But no more Twitter requests please, I tend to lose them after time.

Horror Short: Vincent (1982)

Directed by Tim Burton
Narrated by Vincent Price
Director of Photography Victor Abdalov

Vincent Malloy isn't like other kids, he stays inside, reads Edgar Alan Poe, and slips into macabre fantasies where he envisions himself as Vincent Price. The only thing stopping Vincent from getting lost in his daydream is his mother, who dislikes her son's strange behavior. Vincent is very much Dr. Seuss meets Tim Burton in a poetic and epic short film. There's so much homage to Vincent Price's career in young Vincent's play story of Price as a mad scientist who creates a demon dog, losses his wife, and slips into a bit of insanity that only Price could master in such films. And the subplot of Vincent being different than other kids is reference to Burton's childhood as he grew up reading Edgar Alan Poe and watching cartoons.

Lately Burton has been receiving the hate for his recent films, as Alice in Wonderland was awful (in my opinion) and Dark Shadows equally lacked the charm of his early works. Everything is still Burton-esque (i.e. crooked trees, weird plot) but doesn't have the black warped heart of his prominent films. Vincent has revived my faith in the director though as something this fantastic has to be hidden within him somewhere still. If I was to compose a list of my favorite Burton films The Nightmare Before Christmas would of course be first as it is his best work, but Vincent is a close second. As with Edward Scissorhands it only glimpses into the possibilities of collaboration between Price and Burton. As it is though Vincent is a marvelous, beautiful and twisted piece that is Burton's signature. A definite watch for fans of Burton's older work.

Vincent is available to watch on The Nightmare Before Christmas DVD and also in a less that decent quality upload on youtube. Again if you have a short film you'd like me to view you may contact me on Twitter or at my email bleedingdead22@yahoo.com.

Horror Short: Suburban Zombie or The Decay of the Mind (2012)

Written and directed by Evan Jones
Staring Gareth Rtilary Jones
Director of Photography Evan Jones

In this one minute short film a zombie heedlessly watches the television screen in a storage shed until the pictures becomes static and he's temporarily broken from the trance. As the zombie stumbles outside he sees a glimpse into the real world he leaves in. The film diveles away from the literal horror term and is used as the metophic slang often allocated to avid TV watchers. The brief minute is able to get it's message across but after a second viewing on my part. It portrays a society where the 'zombie' is expected to watch TV and is in a controlled environment. When the control group falters for a moment he gets a brief glance at the real society but being a zombie retreats back into his storage shed with the broken TV and continues to watch. It's a social commentary that should be addressed to us all.

The minimal footage is enough to make you ask questions and create different opinions on what its to say about our current world but is the biggest fault against the film. A minute more would of been enough to give it a bit more build. Your in this zombie created society for one brief minute and in that you don't have enough time to process or grasp the lost mind of the zombie. The direction for the film is fair, it at one point showed that of an independent filmmaker but only for a brief few seconds. The rest was done on a very visually appealing scale, with cool cinematography that serves as the most horror aspect to the film. Almost used on a subliminal note, as it may be. I also really liked the music direction for the film, it was a noticeable addition that did not dominate but progressed the film.  Suburban Zombie or The Decay of the Mind is available for free on youtube. It's a good short watch, one I wish was just a little bit longer.

Horror Short: The Dummy (1982)

Terror turns on a woman when the dummy that randomly appears about her apartment comes alive one night. The Dummy is kind of all eighties horror wrapped tightly into one film. It's campy, cliche, full of 'what is she doing?!' moments, but also has a few good solid scares. Most of the comments on youtube are noting seeing this as kids and I can see myself really liking this short as a kid. It'd be one of those films I was obsessed with as I was an odd child and liked to intentionally scare myself. It's not so much scary now as I got over the killer doll thing when I was younger. The film inspired Chucky creator Don Manchini and the influence is present in his film Child's Play, especially in how the dummy just appears out of nowhere.

The Dummy is a student film that was scary enough to get picked up by HBO and USA Network, where it'd often appear before a horror film showing. Director Louis La Volpe does good on what must of been a less than a hundred dollar budget. He manages to get the dummy to move without any apparent human help (i.e. no wires), though it's still a little obvious. Acting is acting and that's all I may say. The score was really quite good though and added a nice layer of chill to the film's suspense. The Dummy is fair little short film that is available for free on youtube. If you saw it as a kid I'd recommend re-watching for nostalgia's sake or if you got seven minutes to spare it's a fun watch.

As you can tell I'm running THIN on shorts. I have a few that I've got saved in case I run completely dead but please if you have a short let me know! I will watch it and review it on my blog. In case you do not know you may contact me at Bleedingdead22@yahoo.com. 

Horror Short: Familiar (2012)

Written and directed by Richard Powell
Staring Robert Nolan, Astrida Auza, and Cathryn Hostick
Director of Photography Michael Jari Davidson

Sanity fights an inner monologue as husband and father John Dodd increasingly begins to lose his mind, taking his inability to tolerate the mundane of his life to a drastic end. The name Cronenberg is being thrown around with this short and short duo (director Powell and producer Zach Green), for good reason too as they create a film with a very much body modification horror but without the schlock that came with Cronenberg's early films. Which I'll address first more than anything is the exceptional special effects by The Butcher Shop, good not only for a low budget short film but good for any film with an illimitable amount of money. Richard Powell's script is the essence of fear as his character John Dodd engages in horrifying acts, the first which occupies the build of the story and the latter which proves for a flinching climax.

Where is Robert Nolan in mainstream horror? Nolan delivers an aberrant performance in John Dodd, a man lost in his own head and life. Powell's direction is on par with his script writing. He and Nolan are made for each other on screen as he directs one of the most bleak horror shorts I've seen. Again my favorite use of a real life horror act paired with an inhuman one creates a more faceted horror film. Photography for the film is subtle and makes for a fitting background to Dodd's disturbance. The contrasting darkness in the bright suburban home sets a dense mood and easily reflects the character's emotions. Green and Powell's twenty minute short film is not only a testament to independent budget film making but an effectual addition to the genre itself. It stands without sympathy or generosity from the limitations and is by itself a rather chilling horror film. The ending may not be for the squeamish but if you can stomach it this a definite short film watch.

As usual Familiar is making its way around film festivals so look for it. You can keep updated with Familiar on its Facebook page and follow Fatal Pictures on Blogspot for more info on this short and others.

Horror Short: Waffle (2010)

Written and directed by Rafael De Leon Jr
Staring Kathryn Neville Browne, Kerri Ford and Andrea Shannon Young
Director of Photography Anthony DeRose

There's something a little off about Wendy, and it becomes apparent when her classmate and new friend Dana comes over to Wendy's house for dinner one night; her mother foul and overbearing and Wendy seemingly a psychopath. However not all madness is unprovoked and when the true nature of Dana's visit is revealed at dessert a horror of its own comes to life. I'm aware that the film only runs a few minutes in length but the plot seemed very one note, the characters not really, but as to why the reason Dana was at Wendy's house could of been adjusted to something a little bit more engaging or maybe something horrifying. Again the aim is to 'shock' the audiences, and it does, but a little forthcoming because you know there's something not right with Wendy. The concept is how at surface value and within a person there are truer more darker natures but it really just felt a bit bland for me.

I attest that the obtuse execution laid in the writing by De Leon Jr, who was fair as a director but tried a little too hard to create a disturbing use of dialogue. Acting also contributed to the dull script, a good portion of it being overacted, especially by Browne who played Wendy's mother. Even in the cover art the photography for Waffle is what I like the best, a very dark contrast of colors paired with this distorted strawberry pink creates a very nice visual piece of lighting to look at. Also by keeping the camera off Wendy's face for the majority of the film proved effective when a direct shot of her face is revealed, taking you back at the very least. Waffle isn't a horrible film by any means, nothing like Bunny Boy, but overall I found it to be a little dull and fairly mediocre. Not a waste of five minutes but not a need-to-see short film either.

You may follow the film on its blogspot and watch out for its appearances at film festivals around the world. 

As a side note I'm running a little short on short films so if you have one you'd like me to review please email me at bleedingdead22@yahoo.com, or contact me by my twitter.

Horror Short: Good Morning, Beautiful (2011)

Written and directed by Todd Cobery
Staring David Tufford
Director of Photography Bo Hakala

After the death of his baby daughter Dave becomes numb with the inimitable tragedy. His wife, just as broken, is distant and all Dave sees is ugliness. As Dave is getting perspective into the truth of the world the silhouette of reality falters and chaos awakens. Good Morning, Beautiful runs at twenty minute length and if a full feature it'd remind me of Let the Right One In (I'm sure this comparison is becoming tiresome) in that it takes the pace slowly and doesn't force feed you the horror, so to speak. Not exactly surrealistic in plot but more of a brutal metaphor in that monsters and obscene violent acts openly occur in broad daylight as Dave goes about common activities. Though Dave is seeing monsters the real fear is in the world he's living in where babies die, people get shot, and there is no sense of control any more.

David Tufford seamlessly handles the blurred reality of David, not missing a step from the depressed man to the feared individual he becomes. Todd Cobery script is developed in a further sense; it addresses the less attractive side of the world while presenting us with the horror. As well as adding moments of levity to lighten from the more macabre subjects as infant death and child murder. Cobery's direction also shows that of experience, his direction of Dave waiting in the doctor's office is great taking focus to the child's toy in the back to reflect the horrible wait and just the general inpatients to being there. I also loved the opening with the fast play around Dave as he lifelessly sits still in his chair hearing the news about his daughter. Bo Hakala's work as DP is nice, the lighting and angels being on key with Cobery's direction. Good Morning, Beautiful was my favorite short film at the Mile High Horror Film Festival. It's another that managed to speak more of society than most films as it takes focus to the general ugly on the world, even if it doesn't give us a solution to stop it.

Good Morning, Beautiful is going around film festivals. The film's website lists dates and upcoming news for the indie film.

Horror Short - Bunny Boy (2010)

Written and directed by Brandon LaGanke
Staring Mitch Webb and Teymur Guliyev
Director of Photography, Ruben O'Malley

My viewing for the film Bunny Boy came to me from no other than the lovely Mile High Horror Film Festival, where the majority of the Horror Shorts I'll be doing are also birthed of. The film's poster caught my eye and it was what led me to pick the Shorts slot over a film like Chilerama or I Saw The Devil. The five minute running time tells the story of a boy, who sees a man in a bunny suit, sitting by the side of the road, seemingly dead. A silent conversation pursues when the boy tries to feed and give the bunny water, what the boy doesn't realize though that there is a reason this particular individual is sitting by the side of the road, in a bunny suit, not really being all the way there. Maybe the moral of this short is don't talk to strangers?

Bunny Boy was likely the only horror short I absolutely loathed at the MHHFF, so much in fact I feel wrong just writing about it. I'm a horror fan so violence doesn't phase me but I prefer when it has a purpose, whether it'd be comedic or to send a message, I don't care, as long as its not gratuitous. Bunny Boy misses this mark severely at showing violence just to be weird, and to attempt to disturb you. I found it disturbing, but not on an artistic point, rather at the idea itself. I feel sorry for the other films that missed the available spot from whoever voted to keep this in. Maybe I missed the point. I'm not ashamed in admiting I don't always understand a films intention but really as far as my viewpoint it lacked purpose and thought, a pathless walk trying to classify itself as horror. I'm too pissed off about it to even note any light points like the cinematography. I hated it, don't waste five minutes of your life watching this. Please...

BUT if you must Bunny Boy is making its way around film festivals (horror and non horror alike), so look out for it.

*Update: I've decisively found a place for the Horror Shorts now, it'll be the second Sunday of every month. I would like to do it at least twice a month but as of now I'm limited because I've only seen so many. Again if you have one you'd like me to watch and review send me a link on my twitter or at bleedingdead22@yahoo.com.

Horror Short: The Cleansing (2011)

Written and directed by Gary Marino Jr.
Staring Kimberly Laurenne, Erika Robel, and Ashley McDonald.
Director of Photography Gary Marino Jr.

Initially I didn't set to do these on a weekly basis as I do not have access to enough short films to cover fifty two viewings, if not more. Therefore I hadn't anticipated a horror short review for you this lovely Sunday night but was led to a viewing of The Cleansing and decisively changed my mind, as of twenty some odd hours ago. As usual I pose caution towards raw sentence flow and bad grammar, begging you to pay attention to the context rather than the content. The Cleansing is one of six short films from Fractures Films, "a collection of short abstract films examining the macabre, the twisted and the obscure textures of life". This particular film takes focus to Michelle and her newborn son who's been possessed with crying, by natural or maybe unnatural means, leaving her sleepless and agitated. Lost in a post postpartum depression of sorts Michelle is at the edge of her sanity and the baby doesn't appear to be stopping anytime soon. The Cleansing covers a wide range of topics from new motherhood to depression but ultimately serves as a horror film. As I'm coming to find with these short films the idea is to capture you as an audience within their short running frame and the most effective way to do that is by shocking you. After the twist is revealed the film runs for a full minute, which converted to full film is rather like twenty minutes, and you're constrained to endure the reality that's been imposed upon you. It's an unpleasant feeling, one that left a pit in my stomach in all honesty.

Kimberly Laurenne is deeply disheveled (as a compliment) in her role as Michelle, she ranges from the annoyed mother, to the despaired, and then changes her tune completely for the ending. An ominous and almost empty slideshow of pictures account for the subconscious of the film and of Michelle's mind. The lighting, the brief abstract shots, and the music was all very reminiscent of the tone in The Ring. The film has a professional appearance to it but it doesn't have an IMDB page or any other signs of big studio release outside Fractures Films website; accreditation for Gary Marino Jr. who did the directing, writing, and served as DP for the film, three notes which I enjoyed very much. If I had to dissect and choose a negative for the film I'd say the baby was clearly not real, but seeing how I don't really care neither should you. In my argument I'd say The Cleansing is a really dark piece, it takes you back in nature but holds you in its cinematography. It's available, as well as their other five films, for a free watch on Fractures Films website. Also while you're there go to their About section for a unique description of what they've set out to do. I quoted a bit from it earlier, feeling it said more about the film than I could say myself. You may also follow them on Twitter for more updates on their films and such.

Horror Short: Seizure (2011)

Written and directed by James Neff and Joseph Dean Martinez
Staring Brian Ardolino and Danica Deering
Director of Photography Joseph Dean Martinez

The Horror Shorts have been absent for a little more than a month because of the top five lists but I'm glad to bring it back with Night Walker Cinema's short film Seizure, a contestant for the Universal Halloween Horror Nights short film contest. Isolation has constricted Jordy more than anything, with his only real line to the outside world being his answering machine. His tormenting visions having been written off as mental illness and a pursued fixture by medication, but this may not be medical at all, and Jordy seizures may just be caused by something far more terrifying. This is Night Walker Cinema's first short film and an appealing first piece. The film runs a few seconds short of three minutes and provokes a feeling stylized to what the hell is going on. It comes equipped with a nice little twist ending that may or may not send a chill down your spine, depending on how you feel towards this type of horror.

Brian Ardolino is the man of focus, being the only physical person on screen. His performance is a bit extreme at moments but it makes for a more intense experience and overtly effective. Direction is solid by the two directors, I'm a little taken back as to why this was not accepted in to HHN, though not perfect a lot more adequate than some shit that seeps into film festivals. Cinematography wise it's not exceptional but good for first time DP, particularly the end shot that very cautiously reveals the twist, in the right amount of light. And I really quite liked the font they picked for the credits. A definite watch Seizure is available on youtube for free at Night Walker Cinema's channel. You should also follow them on Twitter for more updates on this film and their upcoming projects.

Horror Short - Microcinema: Improvisation Can Be A Killer (2011)

My blog has been getting a little bit of attention thanks to my followers and people on twitter retweet my reviews. At the same time though I only do one review a week, spare for the Irrelevant Post Friday's which basically do nothing but let me compose a horrific display of random thoughts, all for the public to view of course. A review a week isn't all that encouraging in bringing readers back and since I've been wanting to do something else for awhile I came up with Horror Shorts. It's the same as a film review only where I review horror shorts available via youtube or websites or however else they become accessible to me. The length will be cut into two paragraphs and I'll link to where you can view the short. I'll do these as often as I come across them, so if you're a filmmaker and have one you'd like me to review please send it my way.

Written and Directed by Skip Shea
Staring Alex Lewis and Aurora Grabill
Director of Photography, William Smyth
http://www.watchmicrocinema.com/

Microcinema: Improvisation Can Be A Killer follows Peter Martell, a snuff film fan who is tired of watching and ready to be an active participate in the dark film form he loves so much, but at Peter's peak of voyeurism things turn unexpectedly. The film is an immensely disturbing six minutes of the torture porn variety. As said, for lack of a better phrase, the film really grabs you by the balls and drags you in a direction not anticipated by the common thought. It really has one of those moments where you can honestly say I thought of everything happening BUT that. And in that it's rather disturbing and hard to watch, but all in a professional way; nothing to mimic the low cred snuff films that Peter is addicted too.

Skip Shea is an adept director with equal ability to write, his short film gets more across than most full length films. Acting is also quite proficient by our two leads; Alex Lewis falls into his role with ease, reading off Shea's dialogue as if he's the next Raymond Lemorne. And I most definitely must give my credit to Aurora Grabill for bravely taking a part such as this, one she also pulled off rather well. The cinematography is good, it's from the point of view of a video camera but the look and feel isn't the typical "found footage" style. My only negative I'd say for the film is the violence goes on a little bit to long in its short running time, for my taste at least. Highly recommended Microcinema is available here for a very worth it $0.99, (it's worth more, in my opinion). In addition to watching it you can also read through the description which gives an insight into its beginnings and its creator. You can also follow Skip Shea on twitter.

If you have a short please send me a link, you can contact me at bleedingdead22@yahoo.com or on my Twitter.