Short Films - Twisted Tales - Festival Reviews

A Good Death (Directed by KAZ PS) 

'A Good Death's director, KAZ PS, has been open about how the short film aligns with what she terms as 'high femme gothic horror'. As the definition explores, A Good Death is a female-centred, emotionally provocative horror with the beauty and dread of gothicness at its core. The short focuses on Amalia (Tracie Thoms), a death doula, who senses that something is deeply disturbed when she arrives at the home of her new client. Throughout, stylish filmmaking combines with an immense atmospheric unease, alongside a display of exceptional acting from Thoms, Stefanie Estes and Jenny O'Hara, creating an unforgettable experience. 

Better Anything (Directed by Jonjo Lyons) 

In the middle of a moody forest, old wounds are opened as estranged couple Alice (Abigail Hardingham) and Tommy (Benjamin O'Mahony) argue over a continued contention, which graphically reaches a horrifying conclusion. 'Better Anything' walks a tightrope of revelations, where harsh truths are slowly divulged until an incredibly intense boiling point is reached, leading to an array of violence, both through symbolism and characterisation. Tying the theatrics together are the excellent performances from Hardingham and O'Mahony, who together form an integral, raw performative duo that elevate and emphasise the troubling situation.

For Sale (Directed by Barney Pell Scholes and Thomas Harnett O'Meara) 

'For Sale' has enough meat on its bones in its narrative to be compared to a full-length feature, as the film grapples with a genuinely foreboding storyline. The short film follows the pregnant Lucy (Ebony Buckle) and her husband David (Adam El Hagar) as they search for a new house. Leading one of these visits is an eerie estate agent (Alexander Devrient), whose insistent pleasantry leads to the discovery of a dark secret within the walls. For Sale is a film that keeps its card close to its sleeve. From the outset, the atmosphere is off-putting and there is most definitely something wrong with the realtor, but it is not till the very end when the terrifying revelations are blasted, making For Sale an utterly intense must-see. 

La Croix (Directed by Joris Fleurot) 

Packed with a plethora of instances brimming with pure dread whilst managing to consistently keep the viewer on tenterhooks is Joris Fleurot's 'La Croix'. The short film follows Jade (Anaïs Parellò), an uninspired graphic designer who is met with strange phenomena after performing a hedonistic ritual. Here is where much of the terror ignites, with the film continually employing a haunting, mystical sense of intensity that keeps in theme with the incredible Faustian-based horror. On top of the menacing displays is the film's running, powerful motif of the drive for perfection and the succumbing to self-doubt. 

Rip Advisor (Directed by Ludovic Matthey) 

Bastien Burgi plays a man obsessed with rating every minute detail, that is, until he gets a thirst for death, going on a killing streak to achieve the perfect score. 'Rip Advisor' is laden with detailed and provocative social commentary on the immense consumerist culture that has been fostered amongst society. Validation and general existence are now entirely intertwined, with Rip Advisor hybridising horror with this intriguing discourse. Besides the crucial rhetoric, Rip Advisorengages with some rather violent body horror as we watch Burgi in increasingly volatile and brutal scenarios. 

Surprise! (Directed by Dave Gardner) 

'Surprise!' is every bit of a shock that the snappy title would suggest, as the film takes one unexpected turn after another, resulting in a startling conclusion. The short film sees a working-class mum, Sam (Dodie Finamore), arrive home to a surprise party; however, she is soon to be greeted by something much more sinister than party balloons and birthday cake. Bar the applaudable bombshell ending, Surprise's most intriguing factor is how the camera captures the action, with the lens remaining static on Sam the whole time, capturing her reactions to the increasingly alarming conversations from her ominous party guests. 

Next Show in 90 Minutes (Directed by John T. Hill) 

After a zombie outbreak, a man suited in biohazard gear walks across the snowy landscape in the heart of America's most cherished places. Not a single word is uttered throughout this moving animated short, with the film opting for near silence, only playing a solemn orchestral track as we watch the lonely man attempt to find that familiar sense of humanity amongst a completely barren world. 'Next Show in 90 Minutes' uses its stunning animated style to detail the thought-provoking narrative, with the film depicting gruesome scenes, whilst keeping the narrative's essence rooted in sentiment and ambience. 

Santa's Little Helper (Directed by Lucy Foster) 

'Santa's Little Helper' follows a supposed innocent little festive gnome who keeps a very watchful eye on who will end up on the 'naughty or nice' list. The trend of 'Elf on the Shelf' has been at the forefront of Christmas fun for years; however, what director Lucy Foster also noticed was how the innocuous nature of the toy can also be translated to a form of twisted surveillance. In this tale of festive horror, Santa's Little Helper both tickles and alarms, with the film being a fantastic entry into the growing love for spooky media at Christmas time. This creepy fright is a testament to horror's versatility and how the creativity and passion of indie filmmaking thrive in the multifaceted practice of genre cinema. 

Grandma Is Thirsty (Directed by Kris Carr) 

George (Harris Kiiza) is tired of being bullied, so when a pair of eccentric twins (Harrison Little and Jessie Johnson) draw him in with the promise of meeting their grandma (Matt Swift), who can make him "big and strong", he jumps at the offer. However, what occurs is a nightmarish descent into pure hell. A commendable aspect of 'Grandma Is Thirsty' is how effectively the film is made, with the film proving that short cinema can hold even more gravitas than full-length features. Combine this with the incredible performances throughout, with a particular nod being owed to Little and Johnson, alongside the film's stellar effects, and you have a film that is impossible to fault. 

Catch the 'Twisted Tales' short films on Saturday, 27th September at 13:45 at this year's Dead Northern Film Festival 

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