Pig:
A cabin in the woods house invasion brilliantly switches perspectives in this darkly comic and poignant take on how killers carve up roles and provide a support group. Well-acted and well-observed horror tropes allow this short to pull a convincing 180 without losing its central spine, clocking up many laughs along the way.
One Last Meal:
A great tracking shot maps the journey a returning prison officer makes to work. Awaiting him is the due execution of a prisoner, whose last meal request fuels the narrative for this short. The lead actor conveys a suitable nervousness and vulnerability and the production design is suitably convincing. The resolution of the core problem is gross as much as it is unbelievable, given the extent to which the filmmakers go to establish a convincing real-world setting.
Dog Skin:
A beautiful opening shot tracking a lone man walking to the city at night is the start of this minimal and beautifully lit short. A man falls for a woman who only appears at night and takes on the appearance of a wolf. Dog Skin tracks their fleeting and passionate interactions to a climax where the man makes a final decision about the relationship. A beautifully shot treatment of urban passions and desires.
Re-possessed homes:
A single mum real estate agent repurposes several haunted houses to make ends meet in this well-observed short. Classic horror tropes from haunted house tales are given a comic home make over overrides the estate agent’s care of her clients. Laugh-out loud funny with a story real emotional depth, this is one short that would make an entertaining feature.
Hunting Season:
This John Carpenter-esque short blends visual treatments inspired by The Fog along with his classic Body Bags Gas Station set-up. A monster on the prowl brings the attention of hunters via a gas station. When the creature makes its eventual appearance you’re left to consider who the real monsters are. Visually satisfying and paced to keep you guessing to the end.
This Little Death:
A Harold Pinter-esque short examines the infatuation between a couple who meet by chance and begin a passionate affair. Beautifully shot and lit with convincing performances given the off-beat material, while the plot was a little unclear, it held your attention.
Toe:
The urban legend of a dead body reclaiming its lost toe is given the animated treatment in this atmospheric and beautifully textured short. Production design and editing is top notch all of which makes for a visually compelling spin on this well-worn take.
Midnight:
This short brilliantly manipulates time and space to provide the viewer with a haunted house tale from three points of view making you wonder who’s real and who’s the ghost. One location is used and the short manages to maintain a visual consistency while making each time period visually different through thoughtful set design. A clever plot executed with attention to detail makes for a cinematic treat.
The Game of The Clock:
A visiting woman discovers her friend’s apartment empty when she arrives for movie night and must work through several messages to overcome a seeming monstrous presence. This short was a great example of a how lean idea coupled with a strong thread of “what will happen next” is enough to make a sharp and pointed short. The turn at the end was extra creepy.
Sleep Tight:
We’ve all had a conversation where we debate old school versus new school horror films. In this short, father and son square off before bedtime. Later, the son has to square his night terrors with the possibility of a real threat. Directed with the vim of Edgar Wright this short was a fun way to round-off a selection of truly great shorts.