Short Film Movie Review

Film Review: ANTICA, (Canada, Horror/Thriller)

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Played at the HORROR FEEDBACK Film Festival in October 2017 to rave reviews.

Review by Kierston Drier

A slow burn of a horror film that takes its time to build suspense and heart-racing panic. ANTICA follows the journey of one, solitary man working a night shift where everything is slowly going wrong. Minor workplace injuries and misfortunes build tension as our hero gradually realises something isn’t right. As he continues his shift in an otherwise empty warehouse he begins to realize he might not be alone. What ensues is a creeping, tantalizing and utterly uncomfortably series of events that bring our hero to the terrifying realization that he may not be the only one skulking around on the job.

 

What is truly fascinating about this horror-thriller work, is that creates fear, unease and anxiety with no words, and only one performer. The editing, sound, lighting, and setting create the uncanniness that drives the terror for the audience just as much as the excellent performance by our hero. Another fantastic element of this film is the inversion of the classic horror tropes. So often our horror film sets up a scenario with beautiful but naive youngster heading off on a misguided adventure with ill-thought-out plans and a failure to read the warning signs. ANTICA doesn’t take this route at all- our hero is a middle-aged everyman, in a familiar setting and going about a well-known routine. It is more horrifying when one is endangered in the place they know than when they wander into the unknown and discover danger there.

 

ANTICA takes its time to terrify you, but it is well worth the wait.

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Film Review: SPEECHLESS, (USA, Horror/Thriller)

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Played at the HORROR FEEDBACK Film Festival in October 2017 to rave reviews.

Review by Kierston Drier

 

We have all feared monsters in our closets as children. But what if the monster does not live in your closet- but outside your door, forever waiting to get in. SPEECHLESS tells the story of a young boy writing notes and passing them under the doorway from his room to the hallway- and getting answered back my a monster clawing to get in. Yet when the door finally opens, it is his mother who opens the door and refuses to believe his tales. Not only that but she chides him for his inability to grow up and stop being afraid of fairytales. Monsters, it seems, come in all sorts of shapes and sizes.

 

SPEECHLESS has two areas of interest- one is its effective use of sound. From the scratching of the crayon on the paper, our hero uses to communicate- to the lack of noise he makes when he finally confronts the monster- the sound is a spine-tingling presence in the work. The other area of note is the subversion of the classic trope of the monster being in the child’s’ closet. Instead, this monster roams free outside the child’s’ bedroom- conceivably in the hall. Instead of the monster being trapped in the closet- the child is trapped in their bedroom. The inversion of the classic trope creates a new sense of panic for our hero, who has literally no way to escape his fate.

 

SPEECHLESS is a simple but incredibly effective horror film- for it generates fear on multiple levels- fear of the unknown, fear of the known, fear of not being believed- fear of sound and fear of silence. A chilling and thrilling short indeed.

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Film Review: GIRL #2 (USA, Horror/Comedy)

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Played at the HORROR FEEDBACK Film Festival in October 2017 to rave reviews.

Review by Kierston Drier

One of the hardest areas of genre blending is terror and delight. Unlike romance and comedy or science-fiction and mystery, comedic-horror has an incredibly tight margin for error. Slightly too much in one direction and you have an awkward or unbalanced film. GIRL #2, directed by David Jeffery, is an example of a perfectly orchestrated success of these two styles. GIRL #2 follows two girls trapped in their sorority house while a crazed murderer follows them. Several of their friends fall victim to him and when the girls barricade themselves in a room for safety, the debate who will be able to get away. The tables turn in the debate when the girls get into a fight over who will have time to escape the villain- because based on horror cliche, the most attractive girl will likely get killed first.

 

Hilarious in its absurdity, GIRL #2 hits a tone similar to known horror-satire CABIN IN THE WOODS, because it delivers the classic horror tropes while also making fun of its own genre. A rollercoaster blood-and-thrill start to the short makes the comic turn all the most delightful as the subversion of expectations is take to a raucous extreme. GIRL #2 will surely please comedy lovers and thrill seekers alike.

 

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Film Review: PEARL, 2017, USA, Fantasy/Drama

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Submit your STUDENT Film to the Festival Today: https://studentfeedbackfestival.com/

SHORT FILM played at the October 2017 STUDENT FEEDBACK Film Festival.

Review by Kierston Drier

Fantastical and filled with whimsy, PEARL is an anachronistic tale with the sweet, sorrowful touching effect of a well-told fairy tale. Director Assia Quinhang Shoa brings this USA film to life with care and detail. Our story follows an aging and lonely puppeteer Sam who finds and rescues a young mermaid. Unable to speak English, Sam names her Pearl and believes at long last he has found a friend. But Pearl belongs in the ocean and no amount of devotion Sam has for her can change that truth.

 

Told with innocence and delight, this simple story warms the heart. It has boasts beautiful and detailed production design and excellent performances by the main characters. It resonates with a meaningful message- young or old, we all want to belong.

 

Sam must make a difficult choice in what is best for Pearl, but that doesn’t mean his impact on her hasn’t been profound. A sweet story with the comfort of a favorite lullaby, PEARL is an excellent short to warm the heart of anyone. A satisfying and compelling piece that is sure to be a delight to all.

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PEARL, 15min, USA, Fantasy/Drama
Directed by Assia Qianhang ShaoIt is a fairy tale about an old lonely puppeteer, Sam, saves a 9-year- old wounded mermaid and helps care for her and love her as a father. However, when her wounds heal he struggles with letting her go back to the ocean.

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Film Review: D’ARLINE, 2017, USA, Drama/Biography

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Submit your STUDENT Film to the Festival Today: https://studentfeedbackfestival.com/

SHORT FILM played at the October 2017 STUDENT FEEDBACK Film Festival.

Review by Kierston Drier

Dive into A’DARLENE and you will relive the brilliant true story of physicist and professor Richard Fenyman and learn about his impact on mathematics and modern history. D’ARLENE is a short drama, coming from the USA and directed by Christina Jobe. D’ARLENE follows the real-life genius through his time at the Manhattan project, working as a physics professor and his research into the Atomic bomb- but intercuts his present with his recent past- the relationship he has with his first wife Arlene, including her tragic and untimely death.

 

D’ARLENE feels like a feature in the way it boasts complex characters, deep relationships, moving storylines and a brilliant rise-and-fall of plot and resolution. Yet this dense story fits neatly and cleanly into twenty-two minutes. Without a single detailed left unattended, the world Jobe creates is tangible, visual and highly emotional. The film is balanced without a single superfluous scene, shot or frame.

 

The production value is excellent and the mise-en-scene thought out and lush to watch.  All artistic details are attended to with the precision of skilled professionals. Beyond the story and composition of the work, the performances by the cast are second-to-none. The climax of the piece, a letter written by the actual Richard Fenyman and delivered by the actor, leaves a powerful resounding effect on the viewer.

 

As a story, as a piece of cinema, as a work of art, D’ARLENE has much to be proud of. Bravo Christina Jobe. Bravo.

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D’ARLINE, 22min, USA, Drama/Biography
Directed by Christina JobePhysicist Richard Feynman struggles to make a scientific break through after experiencing personal trauma and while fighting guilt over his work on the atomic bomb. Based on a true story.

CLICK HERE – and see full info and more pics of the film!

Film Review: TWO, 2017, USA, Fashion/Experimental

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Submit your STUDENT Film to the Festival Today: https://studentfeedbackfestival.com/

SHORT FILM played at the October 2017 STUDENT FEEDBACK Film Festival.

Review by Kierston Drier

Bright, stunning and boasting exceptional editing, TWO is 60-seconds of a non-stop visual art. Directed by Tamara Hansen out of the USA, TWO depicts the relationship between two women, in an avant-garde cinematic display. Opulent and decadent and seamlessly attentive to detail, this is a film that leaves not a single frame wasted.

 

From the very first second of TWO, the audience is hit with an onslaught of rapid-fire images, each equally riveting, visually interesting and lush. Highly interpretive, this one-minute piece is open to discussion regarding its larger themes. Yet there is no doubt that it has much to say. A shimmering example of exceptional visual work and guided with an excellent editorial hand, TWO is a fantastic vibrant short.

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TWO, 1min, USA, Fashion/Experimental
Directed by Tamara HansenThis short film is about the relationship of two girls, shown in an artsy way.

CLICK HERE – and see full info and more pics of the film!

Film Review: THE SCULPTOR, 2017, USA, Documentary

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Submit your STUDENT Film to the Festival Today: https://studentfeedbackfestival.com/

SHORT FILM played at the October 2017 STUDENT FEEDBACK Film Festival.

Review by Kierston Drier

This short and timely four-minute documentary coming from the US, directed by Ben Ginsburg, is a fascinating story following a young artist. Creator Malcolm Macdougall is an up-and-coming artistic sculptor that works in metals- crafting sheet metal and scrap metal into huge and masterful artistic works. Often finding inspiration from the natural world, these gentle giants of artistry are remarkable and breathtaking. Yet Malcolm must like the art he creates, is calm, relaxed and thought-provoking. He speaks of his medium as a form of self-expression without any pretensions.

 

His art is simply his hobby, but a powerful and meaningful hobby. Yet this hobby has him working in a huge warehouse, welding and dealing with a medium that requires exceptional skill, labour and patience. A strong and powerful cinematic piece with fascinating works of art to be shown, this short documentary is well worth the watch.

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THE SCULPTOR, 4min, USA, Documentary
Directed by Ben Ginsburg This short documentary examines the work, process, and philosophy of Malcolm Macdougall, an up-and-coming sculptor in the Hudson Valley.

CLICK HERE – and see full info and more pics of the film!

Film Review: BRIDGING COLOR, 2017, South Korea, Drama

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Submit your STUDENT Film to the Festival Today: https://studentfeedbackfestival.com/

SHORT FILM played at the October 2017 STUDENT FEEDBACK Film Festival.

Review by Kierston Drier

BRIDGING COLOUR comes to us by director Chang Hyun Park, and hails from South Korea. An emotionally driven piece delivered with passion, flawless execution, and dramatic balance, it tells the tale of a highly accomplished and ego-centric Art teacher whose arrogant self-righteousness gets the better of him when he slowly begins to go color blind.

 

A perfect story of poetic justice and the compelling nature of art subjectivity, BRIDGING COLOR is ultimately a metaphor for ableism and inclusion. The rules we rigidly adhere to are able to shut us out as much as they pull us in.

 

There is a seamless flow to BRIDGING COLOUR, one that takes our hero down a perfect hubris-fueled poetic fall. One of the best parts of this film is the exceptional acting of the hero, who is able to have the entire audience feel compassion and sympathy for him- although he never totally breaks his clearly flawed character. Completely with an emotional and touching ending BRIDGING color is a well made and perfectly put together piece of cinema.

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BRIDGING COLOR, 23min, South Korea, Drama
Directed by Chang Hyun ParkAn arrogant, world famous painter becomes colorblind and realize that what he see is not always what it seems.

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Film Review: BEAUTIFUL – 2017, Iraq/USA, Drama/War

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Submit your STUDENT Film to the Festival Today: https://studentfeedbackfestival.com/

SHORT FILM played at the October 2017 STUDENT FEEDBACK Film Festival.

Review by Kierston Drier

 

A short, sweet story that stretches across time and space to touch your heart, BEAUTIFUL tells the tale of an Iraq refugee girl marred by a burn injury. Despite her mothers’ encouragement, the child’s self-esteem is deeply damaged by her injury.  Yet when an Iraq war vet reminds her she is beautiful, she is able to see past her insecurities. The poignant moment in the movie hinges on the realization that the war-vet is blind (although our young heroine never realizes this).

 

BEAUTIFUL is a film about the aftermath of trauma. That the pain of war claims innocent victims that carry burdens too heavy for any of them to bare alone. It is a film showcases one of the countless stories of sorrow that follow the path of destruction. Yet, it is also a story about how the violence of war will never win. The collective spirit of compassion that resides within humanity as a whole will always triumph. Where good people are- violence can never dwell.

BEAUTIFUL is a simple but strong story about two people who touch each others’ lives for only a moment- and leave a profound impact. They stand on opposite ends of a spectrum in the wake of a war that harmed them both- but they find solace in comforting each other. A message that reminds us all the evils of war will never bring us peace. Well done, director Navid Tayakolina, well done.

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BEAUTIFUL, 4min, Iraq/USA, Drama/War
Directed by Navid TavakolniaAn Iraqi little refugee girl and an American soldier, both being victims of the same war, meet in the safest place on earth USA.

CLICK HERE – and see full info and more pics of the film!

Film Review: PROMETHEUS INDUSTRIES – 2017, Germany, Animation/Comedy

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Submit your STUDENT Film to the Festival Today: https://studentfeedbackfestival.com/

SHORT FILM played at the October 2017 STUDENT FEEDBACK Film Festival.

Review by Kierston Drier

A comical take on humanity and technology, PROMETHEUS INDUSTRIES is a quick and witty 7-minute animated feat coming out of Germany. The super-sleek technology company of the future enlists a hapless Joe-Everyman to try out some new products, but things inevitably go awry.

 

PROMETHEUS INDUSTRIES is a commentary on technology, hubris, and human stupidity, while still delivering laughter. The story has a charming simplicity to it that lends itself well to the comic tone the piece takes.

 

A special note must be made for these creators, as animation can be a laborious task. Yet this film is a strong example of fluid animation. Director Amr Kamel should be proud of this well executed comedic piece.

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