Mary: Two Kinds of Home Under Threat in this Home Invasion Horror

Alexander Chehrazi’s Mary, co-written with Max Markov,is a 19-minute horror whose twist is actually unexpected. The story of a first date gone wrong, the minimal cast of characters are set within the confines of a living room as truth and lies weave around each other to form a drama of morality.

Briana (Lanisa Dawn) and Tom (Alex Gravenstein, great screen presence) are on their first date. They hit it off well enough that the evening leads them to Tom’s house. But marring the pleasures of a new beginning, a faceless man—tilting just a little towards shadow than matter—seems to dog Briana’s steps from just enough distance that she cannot trust her senses. As for Tom, he ignores it until the plot takes a home invasion turn. 

Of course, it has the hallmarks of traditional horror: character who senses danger and raises the alarm; an oblivious character who (initially) dismisses it; ignoring basic rules of safety; an absence of instinct (which relates to the last trait); at least one easy victim; one final showdown; law enforcement only arrive at the end of the night; and female characters who are symptomatic of possibly all problems. It codes Briana with the perspective of its two male characters—Tom, and the man in the shadows (Alex Dubois).

Arguably the best aspect of Mary is not the horror but the chemistry between Briana and Tom—you don’t doubt it when either party claims that this date is different and worth overriding their usual rules. All the more regret that this is a home invasion horror and not a romance, and no one gets to walk away unscathed, much less happy. 

Watch Mary Horror Short Film Trailer