Done right and taken seriously, the vampire genre has much to offer. With the figure of the undead predator, artists have long delved into the nooks and crannies of humanity, exploring countercultures, and all that is frowned upon, or considered taboo. Writer-director George A. Velez now borrows the vampire to explore another frowned upon subject:… Continue reading Mr. E, P.I. – Children of the Night: An Ode To Counterculture With Vampirism And Mental Health
Author: Indie Shorts Mag Team
Adel: A Tale Of Disillusionment And How To Cope With It
Rags to riches is an alluring myth. Ask most heroes of these tales, and they will perpetuate it. It is an attractive tale and it does wonders for your public persona. But look closer, and the myth falls apart. The journey, in truth, is like all other journeys. Protracted, draining, testing, completely non-linear, and by… Continue reading Adel: A Tale Of Disillusionment And How To Cope With It
Somebody: The Desperate Search For Meaning As A Clock Counts Down
At a minuscule 1 minute 24 seconds runtime, Jordan Blady’s Somebody does not give you long to sit with its world. All fleeting images, the film evokes a restlessness, emphasized further by the poem, written by Bad’a Diaby, overlaid on it. Its refrain, you don’t know who you are, or where you belong until you meet somebody, echoes through… Continue reading Somebody: The Desperate Search For Meaning As A Clock Counts Down
Sweetie: A Visceral Look At The World Of Paedophiles & Their Hunters
In the 09:35-minute long narrative, writer-director Riley Cusick expertly handles a subject that is both sensitive and complex. A close-up of a predator and his kill, the film, despite its jazz-like music and warm colour palettes, is discomforting to watch. And, a stellar cast doesn’t make it any easier. And, with these choices, Cusick offers… Continue reading Sweetie: A Visceral Look At The World Of Paedophiles & Their Hunters
Occupied: A War Drama On A Largely Overlooked Historical Event
Watching writer-director Alex Bates’s Occupied is equivalent to having a slice of history lesson served with drama and philosophy; and all within an unquestionably good period-setting. It is the 40s’ and in the 21:56-minute long narrative, Bates not only manages to successfully recreate the premise and the stunning imagery of the Channel Islands, but also… Continue reading Occupied: A War Drama On A Largely Overlooked Historical Event
Life’s A Show: Large Egos About Nothing, A Pandemic Era Comedy
A trademark feature of the pandemic is the sudden crop of video calls within the narrative as a storytelling tool. Limited though it is (much like everything else), this relatively new territory does bring the opportunity to reimagine the way we tell stories, and even the very stories we tell. Harvey Puttock’s comedy, Life’s A Show dips… Continue reading Life’s A Show: Large Egos About Nothing, A Pandemic Era Comedy
Daytrip Massacre: The Fast Fun Of Horror Comedy
The genre of horror-comedy boasts of two things: gore (the more the better) and laughs (the funnier is also the gorier). With Artie Brennan and Anthony Giordano written and directed Daytrip Massacre, it is not much different, although the balance between stomach turning gore and side-splitting laughs is precarious, and played with, much and often.… Continue reading Daytrip Massacre: The Fast Fun Of Horror Comedy
Alex: Healing Through Dance, And Gentle Confrontation
The music in its title sequence, and the framing of its opening shot serve as immediate evidence that the story that follows is going to be worth your time. Luca Spreafico’s 9-minute short Alex turns out to be a feast for the eyes. Centred on the eponymous Alex (Silvia Bonavigo), the film opens in a… Continue reading Alex: Healing Through Dance, And Gentle Confrontation
Compliant: A Dystopian World That Is Not Too Far Or Dissimilar From Our Own
We are introduced to the year 2065 and in not so flattering words. The pun is hard to miss; the ambience harder. The wordings are well-chosen. The telling choice with the colour palette in hues of blue and white slowly egg us for a voyeuristic ride into the future. And, the next 09:22-minute long narrative… Continue reading Compliant: A Dystopian World That Is Not Too Far Or Dissimilar From Our Own
Le Corps Poreux: Visual Translation Of A Deeply Intimate Process
Sofia El Khyari’s Le Corps Poreux, or The Porous Body, takes an intimate look at the process of introspection and turns it into a sensory experience that places viewers right under the narrator/protagonist’s skin—something she herself attempts to do. Narrated by Khyari, the film expertly gets at the feeling of being just slightly disconnected with… Continue reading Le Corps Poreux: Visual Translation Of A Deeply Intimate Process