It’s been said on the site many times before, but it’s a real shame that short films are so rarely seen outside of the festival circuit. I would certainly welcome compilations of short horror films – these could quite easily be organised by theme or subgenre – and it’s surprising that these kinds of compilations come along so rarely, particularly given the modest successes of the ABCS of Death some years ago. The moment seems to have been lost, it seems. It’s a real detriment to film fans that short films are not more seen – and appreciated, because they are often able to convey something novel in ways which often elude feature-length productions. This year has seen some superb, pithy, imaginative work: here are some of my favourites from this year.
TROPAION
Tropaion is a testament to atmosphere, establishing a grim dystopia where people eke out an existence according to draconian rules. The word itself – from which we derive our word ‘trophy’ – means a battlefield tribute to victory, to which prisoners would be attached. It seems that in the world of the film, some terrifying presence in the woods requires sacrifice. Amidst all this, a young girl is dedicated to the care of her brother – they are alone and unsupported in this bizarre world. It is a very stark, very beautiful film for all that.
HABITAT
The horrors of technology have permeated horror in the last couple of decades, and Habitat plays with our apprehension about an online existence (particularly where this replaces real, face-to-face interaction). In Habitat, a man works tirelessly to generate clicks, at the behest of an array of adverts and notices which flicker across his computer screen. If he can just get to 100,000 clicks, then…then? The promised prize must surely be worthwhile. Well, it’s quite something, as the film deviates into something altogether more surreal than it begins. An unseemly, sinister piece of filmmaking by first-time lead director Jaime A. Calachi.
ARIA
More techno-horror here, though with a few flashes of humour to break up what is otherwise a pretty unsettling premise, and one which, again, is recognisable. Installing a new voice-operated home system (think Alexa), young couple Jenny and Tom are content with it – at first, before the ‘smart security’ set-up begins to act like it has a mind of its own. Soon, Tom is certain there is something very wrong with Aria. With a strange and unsettling conclusion, Aria manages a good balance of observational humour and an escalating feeling of dread.
LAIKA
Let’s be clear here: Laika absolutely broke me. Not to be confused with the animated short film of the same title, this is a horror-infused piece of sci-fi which takes as its premise the real life story of Laika, the dog sent into space by the Soviet Union (and left there to die). Adam Fair’s short film not only underlines the slow torment of this, creating real pathos, but adds in an ending to this story which is utterly redemptive, even if shocking. A young boy, with his father, watches the launch; as a man, an astronaut, he must flee an explosion on the ISS – where, in his fractured state, he is confronted with his country’s past deeds. Absolutely riveting, heart breaking stuff.
THE LOVERS
The great thing about Avra Fox Lerner’s short film The Lovers is in its effortless-seeming storytelling. The friendship between the key players, Hazel and Andy, is entirely natural and plausible; the situation which unfolds outside the home is equally charming and the pacing throughout is excellent. I have read reviews by writers who said that they guessed the twist here; I must say I did not, and in any case I thoroughly enjoyed its engaging treatment of an age-old horror trope. A very female-centric story which teases out a few anxieties and fine details in its relationships, to say the least.
THE LAST MARRIAGE
Another relationship drama via a horror theme, here, and it’s probably the closest any of the films on this list get to light relief. The Last Marriage concerns a married couple living as well as they can in a post zombie apocalypse scenario. They get on with things okay, or at least it seems so: turns out, though, that being trapped in the house with the same fellow human being can be a bit of a bore. In fact, divorce could be on the cards. The Last Marriage is a darkly funny, grisly, entertaining film which also conveys some nicely-observed points about long term relationships, even if the situation is an extraordinary one.
YOU’RE DEAD HELEN (T’es morte Hélène)
This film manages to run the whole gamut, from very funny, through to some scares, and finally onto something rather moving. Max (Théophile Roux) is being haunted by the ghost of his girlfriend. As time goes on, he becomes increasingly frustrated by her presence, and decides he has to move on – an idea which is not exactly popular, particularly when he heads out on a date with someone else. As the film unfolds, it reveals to the audience what created this situation, and so the film goes from one mode to another, ending on a genuinely poignant note. Charming performances, too.
THE TENANT (Inquilina)
Some of the finest short films are successful because they understand the power of economy, and The Tenant is definitely one of them. I adore it for its great simplicity, done brilliantly well and delivering a note-perfect punchline. When Mia wakes up one morning, her leg feels…odd. It’s numb, and she struggles to move around. As she’s making her way down the street later, a woman approaches her and tells her that her leg feels this way because something has attached itself to her. Thinking the woman must be mad, Mia dismisses her – but begins to wonder. With not a wasted second, The Tenant is a subtle and effective horror story.
STANDING WOMAN
We started this feature with dystopia, and we’re going to end it there. In the very modern, very everyday world of Standing Woman, it’s been decided that, rather than being imprisoned, those who offend against the state will instead be requisitioned and turned into plants – which is better for the environment, see. It’s a bizarre, unsettling idea, but in the world of the film it seems that most people are all for this measure; it takes very little time at all for people to begin persecuting those going through the arduous, unpleasant process, either, as they are essentially permitted to see these criminals as lesser than human. The film focuses on a young couple who are torn apart when Mari is found guilty of a crime, and sentenced. Her struggle to hang onto her humanity is incredibly chilling and affecting; it’s definitely one of those films which sticks around for a while, creeping back to mind when you least expect it.