Supernatural Shorts is unnaturally good
Photo by Katherine Rountree
Written by Sara Terrell
In this year’s new installment of the Savannah Film Festival’s After Dark Series, eight short films from the U.S., U.K. and Canada were presented. They touched from horror to humor with otherworldly story lines. Overall, the shorts were successful and engaging, with only a few grievances.
Playing With The Devil (7 min.) – 2.5 Stars
The opening act of the evening, this was both the scariest and worst among the shorts. Three sisters — in the name of fun — perform a Japanese ritual that invokes a dark force. As expected, it does not end well.
While frightening, the stiff acting, cheesy dialogue and unintentionally funny murderous objects (a purple balloon and a rag doll) detracted from what was happening on screen.
Go North (22 min.) – 4.5 Stars
A young woman goes through a series of hallucinations and visions during and after the 9/11 attacks on the World Trade Center. The story weaves in and out of time seamlessly as she questions her own sanity and the reality of her surroundings.
With a surprising twist ending, this short was one of the most touching and heartfelt pieces of the night. Shetal Sheth’s crisp performance as the lead resonated strongly, her character’s trauma and guilt coming through cleanly.
We Wanted More (15 min.) – 5 Stars
Beautiful cinematography, efficient use of dialogue and excellent acting met in this Canadian short film about a singer who loses her phenomenal voice just before her career is about to take off.
She sacrifices her chance for a settled life to pursue her dreams as she gives in to the expectations of her manager and her fans. Several scenes are purposefully unnerving as the visually stunning supernatural elements of the story take hold. This psychological thriller captivates the audience at first glance through heartfelt and economic storytelling and does not let go until the very end.
Reaver (20 min.) – 4.5 Stars
After a paranoid father of two disappears during an ambiguous supernatural event, his children face the same threat a year later in this sci-fi thriller. The chemistry between the young actors was palpable, and the visual effects stunning. The enemy is never revealed, adding to the dramatic tension and suspense. The only complaint? If only there was more.
August Heat (10 min.) – 3.5 Stars
On an unbearably hot day in New York City, James, played by Mark Sullivan, is drawn out of his apartment by a repetitive pounding noise that leads him to an old man carving the James’s name onto a tombstone.
While the premise is interesting, the suspense is lost with long awkward pauses between dialogue and scenes. It’s made up for slightly by the cliffhanger ending and the performance of Jarlath Conroy, the old man. Sullivan had his moments but mostly looked bewildered throughout.
Remora (9 min.) – 4 Stars
Kevin asks his older brother Landon for his blessing to marry Landon’s ex wife on the day of their wedding. Landon reveals to Kevin that his estrangement from his wife and children was less of a marriage falling apart, and more of a protective measure due to his unnatural and dangerous ability.
The dazzling visual effects and cinematography made up for the clichéd dialogue and somewhat stiff acting; the acting itself had some redeeming humor as it characterized the relationship between the siblings.
The North Side (8 min.) – 2.5 Stars
Out of the eight shorts, this one needed more of a backstory. Set in deserted London, one of the only two people in the city chases the other. It soon becomes apparent that the hunted man is not who/what he seems. With a cliffhanger ending the short is left unresolved. In a case where economical story telling is necessary, the people behind this one seem to have cut the budget a bit too short.
Four Brothers. Or Three. Wait… Three (4 min.) – 5 Stars
The shortest of the films, this one was the star of the evening and an excellent selection for the closing act. Three brothers engage in an Abbot and Costello type dynamic as they try to subdue their undead eldest brother. Witty banter and spot on comedic timing bring this fast-paced conclusion to the series, leaving the audience on a fantastic note.