SHORT FILM SHOWCASE – HORROR
Screened at The Phoenix Film Festival
WEBISODE
Itsy Bitsy Spiders
****
Review by Justin T. Bowler
Very rarely do I see a short film that is near perfect (what a first line of a review, huh?). Director Bertrand Paré has created just that. From the eye-catching title sequence that lasts only for seconds, to the final moment, “Itsy Bitsy Spiders” does not waste a single frame. Exactly every image is necessary for the film, without over-indulging in any of them as so many short films frequently do (as a filmmaker myself, I know that I have been subject to this as well. A lot of short filmmakers will tend to get masturbatory with their short films). Bertrand didn’t dare do this. He clearly knows better.
Clever, well-crafted, and extremely well shot, this short tells the story of a young boy with an obsession and interesting connection to spiders. Clearly influenced by Tim Burton, this short tale is reminiscent of an origin story for a superhero, or perhaps a super villain (I have always thought that the flashback moments in “Batman Begins” were worthy of being an award-winning short. This short film feels like it is just that). At 11 minutes and 45 seconds, when the film ends, it clearly leaves you wanting a lot more (as in the rest of the feature that it should be connected to).
We long for the next scene that is a flash forward to 15 years down the line when we find out what the future holds for our exceptionally interesting character. Will our hero become Professor X, or will he become Magneto? Either way, director Bertrand Paré has found a fan in this Movie Guy. I can’t wait to see his next endeavor (or his continuation with this one) (Check out the written interview I did with Bertrand, along with my review for the Phoenix Film Festival, HERE) (Check out the on-camera interview The Movie Guys did with Bertrand HERE).
4 out of 4 stars. (Period.)
Look for it at a festival near you, or at the Oscars in a year or two.
Your Indie Movie Reviewer,
Justin Bowler
@JustinTBowler
Directed by: Bertrand Paré
Running Time: 11 Minutes, 45 Seconds
Country: USA
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DON’T JUDGE A BOOK BY IT’S COVER
Dust Jacket
***
Review by Justin T. Bowler
It has no synopsis on IMDB, just a tag line “What is about to happen concerning this young woman, will shock and horrify you.” That should be enough to get you interested. Though it was just made a few years ago, “Dust Jacket” is a fun replication of an ’80s horror film. Complete with a John Carpenter type score, including synthesizers, the film also utilizes the neon tones of the early ’80s.
It is not easy to make an audience care about your characters enough to feel tension for them inside of 15 minutes, but Director Ken Miller does just that. I find it particularly interesting that he chose this specific genre to emulate, since horror films from the ’80s don’t fit the standards that we hold for horror films today (I’m not saying they are bad, I’m just saying they don’t fit). Audiences tend to laugh more at moments today, that should have tension (whether funny or not).
Overall, this is a very entertaining short film and certainly worthy of the festival attention that it has received. (Check out the trailer at http://www.youtube.com/watch? v=FR0U6zXS8hE and watch our interview with The Movie Guys, HERE. Also, find out more about “Dust Jacket” at http://www.coolwavepictures.com/dustjacket.html)
3 out of 4 stars for shorts fans and indie fans.
Your indie film reviewer,
Justin Bowler
@JustinTBowler
