The Deep Vessel: A Dive Into The World Of Comedy Meets Horror & Mythology

Sean Cruser is a bonafide horror aficionado. But, with The Deep Vessel, in just 19:45-minute he manages to pull off a film that seamlessly blends multiple genres and subjects with a generous amount of horror and comedy. With a stellar cast to fall back on and thumping music, he creates a fictionalised tale of a band whose desperation takes them down a swirling path of myths, supernatural and unforeseen doom. Presented humourously, the film on several accounts, is a delightful watch despite its subject. Entertaining, funny and ingeniously made, The Deep Vessel is undoubtedly one of the best in its genre to come out this year.

Marcus (Ed Ackerman), Daisy (Aisha Kumari), Johnny (Murphy Patrick Martin) and Reggie (Tyler Beveridge) run a folk band from a nautical-themed studio that is struggling through its second album. With little to no time and money left, Reggie decides to rely on tales from antiquity, literally . He manages to get hold of an ancient box, the eponymous deep vessel, that has supernatural powers to summon the Norse God Brage (voiced by Keith Szarabajka). Once pleased, he grants all wishes true. The catch you might think–hint: Christopher Marlowe’s Doctor Faustus. The only difference? Our hapless band members are utterly clueless and comically naïve. Such is their ignorance, that as the plot thickens, the hilarity of their activities is not only laughable but adorably pitiful.

The cast is perfect. Not only are they so driven and dedicated as is evidenced in their performances, but are also true to the story, such that not once does the slip up, so commonly observed in ensembles happen. There’s an easy chemistry between them all with no upstaging or an added arc given to any character in particular. The comedy is a mix of slapstick humour with very witty lines comically delivered, but the horror is up for an interesting case study. Cruser mixes splatterpunk with folk horror and elements of body horror and the paranormal, of course. It’s a lot, but very well executed, that one doesn’t even realise until the credits begin to roll in. Cruser knows the subject well, and add to that, Jaysen Lewis’s composition and Cruser’s editing and cinematography, we have with us a winner.

To give added credit where it’s due, the makeup (Alexis Frohlich), special effects (Robert Pendergraft) and visual effects (Jason Michael Roberts) make The Deep Vessel compelling, even in its funny moments. The in-your-face effects actually help elevate the plotline. Cruser knows the pulse of his audience clearly. The humour is subtle, and peppered with sarcasm and wit. And, to his credit, the cast simply become their characters to make the film a one-of-a-kind joy ride.

Add The Deep Vessel to one of your weekend watch-lists, it can be enjoyed alone, but even better with company. Offering interesting questions with its open-ended climax, Cruser has proven to be a master storyteller here. Kudos!

Watch The Deep Vessel Horror Short Film Trailer