Photo Courtesy of Jonathan Andre Culliton & Graham Kolbeins
Minister Chucky:
Synopsis: A microdocumentary about two male filmmakers who capture their journey to marriage but with a twist.
General Thoughts: Documentaries as a whole could be one of the hardest genres of film to critique. When you have micro documentaries, that challenge becomes even greater. However, Minister Chucky offers a fresh breath of air in that regard. The documentary remains vulnerable and oddly hilarious in certain parts of its run time. I understand some of the context this documentary explores as it lays the groundwork. However, it feels a bit choked by its run time. The first half of the documentary moves at a breakneck speed which can leave viewers with a sense of whiplash. However, the commentary on our current political state mixed with the hopeful tones of a fresh start makes this a refreshing documentary nonetheless.
Rorschach Rating: 4/5
Photo Courtesy of Gordon Phillips
The Itch
Synopsis: A young man is kidnapped with only days to live.
General Thoughts: Some of this short film by Gordon Phillips feels like a cross between The Substance and the first Saw movie with a third horror influence thrown in for good measure. However, name dropping the third film would be a massive spoiler and reveal the big twist of the film. The twist served as a breath of fresh air. The first half of this short, prior to the reveal, feels like a very paint-by-numbers abduction horror story. The second half draws you to the edge of your seat as it scrambles what your brain just watched. Phillips delivers a beautifully shot film with stunning practical effects and outstanding acting. I love the lighting throughout the course of these 18 minutes. Every shot feels intentional and serves a larger purpose to its overarching narrative.
Rorschach Rating:3.5 / 5
Photo Courtesy of David-Jan Bronsgeest
Binary
Synopsis: An exotic dancer attempts to flee their past.
General Thoughts: Binary certainly embraces the body horror genre. There are some truly beautifully grotesque moments within these 45 minutes that will satisfy fans of the genre. I really appreciate how they use the subgenre to embrace the social commentary of transition. It honestly surprises me it’s taken us this long to have a story like Binary. The film is beautifully shot and tremendously well acted. Binary is certainly a slow burn. I really wish that the climax that the slow burn built to felt a bit grander than what it does. Additionally, I wish we saw a bit more of the horror elements here. This is an extremely well done character study but it doesn’t always work as a horror film.
Rorschach Rating: 3.5 / 5
Photo Courtesy of Dima Barch
Dead End
Synopsis: A man escapes an abusive relationship.
General Thoughts: The marvelous thing about film as a medium is that it can be whatever you wish for it to be. Dead End certainly embraces that fact. It’s an ambitious short film that dares to be abstract but also serves as commentary on the lasting effects of trauma and abuse. For the large part, the commentary works. It’s within the bounds of its ambition that this movie kind of lost me. It’s a film that I certainly respect for what it’s attempting to do, but this movie felt way more embracive of style over substance. Unfortunately, it’s a forgettable arthouse film that doesn’t crawl under your skin the way I wished it would have.
Rorschach Rating: 2 / 5
Photo Courtesy of Sarah Rae Franklin
Lone Buck Motel
Synopsis: A woman receives an ominous message.
General Thoughts: I absolutely adore the animation of Lone Buck Motel. It has this moody almost noir vibe to it, but also feels like it has a nostalgic twist to it that feels reminiscent of 90s Nickelodeon - specifically the Oh-Yeah Cartoons era of the network. Motel is arguably one of those films that it’s a bit challenging to judge. Clocking in at just 2 minutes - there is nothing sustainable to really sink your teeth into outside of the animation. The film feels like a “blink and you miss it” type of experience. I would have loved to see some of this fleshed out a bit more. Given its short run time and fast pace, instead nothing feels fleshed out and everything feels squished together.
Rorschach Rating: 3/5
Photo Courtesy of Tim Connolly
Black Theta
Synopsis: A cult hunts down a young man in random acts of violence.
General Thoughts: Black Theta is every bit the definition of the phrase “mixed bag”. It’s not an outright bad film, but it’s far from a good one. The color palette and imagery is nothing short of stunning. The use of pink, magenta, and purple hues are simply breathtaking. The gags are bloody and work well. I just wished they were closer together or sprawled out a bit more throughout its near two hour run time.
The pacing just feels a bit awkward here. Theta certainly doesn’t feel like it earns its 108 minute run time. Characters feel underdeveloped, as if they exist within the world simply to fill it out rather than to serve a purpose for the narrative. I do appreciate the fact that this film does address the complex trauma and healing process that comes from the fallout of situations like this. Very few slashers do that well, but Theta certainly does.
Rorschach Rating: 2 / 5
Photo Courtesy of Tommy Psychic-Spaghetteria
Egg Mama in “Carbon Cowboy”
Synopsis: A fever dream that explores a day in the life of Egg Mama.
General Thoughts: This is without a doubt one of the strangest short films I’ve ever come across in my time as a film critic. Carbon Cowboy boldly blends crude animation with some daring live action choices. This short film feels like the long lost cousin of Tim & Eric: Awesome Show or something that would have played on Acid TV back in the 90s. It’s unapologetically unique with stunning animation and WTF moments littered throughout its 5 minute runtime. It certainly is an acquired taste. However, if you’re a fan of early 2010s Adult Swim - this has your name written all over it.
Rorschach Rating: 3 / 5
Photo Courtesy of Steve Flavin
Blood Oranges
Synopsis: A man is attacked by a killer orange.
General Thoughts: Blood Oranges thrives in its simplicity. On one hand, it’s a subtle period piece that heightens tension by removing the smart technology we are all accustomed to. Its throwback approach is refreshing. It takes place in the 80s without making the decade a part of its cinematic identity. The practical effects here, along with the character design, are sinister and outstandingly done. The acting is strong with some true charm from our leading man. This one is just a blast.
Rorschach Rating: 4.5 / 5
Photo Courtesy of Paul Jacob Presley
Scrumptious
Synopsis: A thief gets her own surprise.
General Thoughts: Scrumptious is a special kind of slow burn. It’s not done in the traditional sense like Hereditary but rather the short film feels like a throw back to the grindhouse days of the 70s. From a technical standpoint, the cinematography here feels almost nostalgic, leaning into the greens and yellows that feel very reminiscent of the 2000s action films, a la Gone in 60 Seconds or The Fast and the Furious. But it is the scene stealing performance from Jackie Beat that takes this comedy to a completely different level. The script maintains a degree of camp that really works and Beat manages to elevate it to new highs, completely re-writing the short film in the meantime.
Rorschach Rating: 4 / 5
Photo Courtesy of Paige Henderson
3 Easy Steps
Synopsis: A woman attempts to reinvent herself amidst a breakup.
General Thoughts: 3 Easy Steps is an exceptional short that beautifully blends elements of elevated horror and psychological thriller with a touch of slasher to result in a haunting and compelling exploration of identity. Nicole Murray does an incredible job at anchoring the film with an outstanding performance; though it might be the haunting performance from writer-director Paige Hamilton, who will also leave you equally as breathless.
Rorschach Rating: 4.5 / 5
Photo Courtesy of Ben Hirshhorn
Ghosted
Synopsis: Two ghosts, one real and one in costume, fall in love.
General Thoughts: The black and white aesthetic here is simply stunning. Overall, I think I enjoyed the concept of this movie way more than the actual execution. The silent film approach to storytelling is good if it’s done well. It’s not to say that Ghosted doesn’t have that, but rather it feels like two competing visions. The first feels like a music video, whereas the second embraces the silent film storytelling approach. I really wish the love story aspect would have been introduced earlier than when it was.
Rorschach Rating: 2 / 5
Photo Courtesy of Jordan Gustafson
Prom Party Massacre
Synopsis: A young man aims to win over his crush during a prom party.
General Thoughts: Prom Party Massacre is a truly rare breed. I can’t tell you the last time I’ve seen the slasher genre have musical roots and I loved every second of this. The music hits its audience with infectious enthusiasm. It’s quite impressive that, as catchy as these tunes are, director Jordan Gustafson also manages to make this film feel claustrophobic. I do wish some of the horror elements introduced themselves a bit earlier in the film. Some of the genre changes can feel a bit jarring, moving from the film’s opening more optimistic tones to the bloody brutality we get later on. Still, this film felt like such a tease and that’s the hallmark of truly great storytelling.
Rorschach Rating: 4 / 5
Photo Courtesy of C.J. Arellano
Dry January
Synopsis: Siblings experience strange messages showing up during slumber
General Thoughts: The color palette here is absolutely breathtaking. Dry January has this way of drawing you in from its opening neon frames to its somewhat surprising ending. The acting across the board is strong. The lighting is top tier, which is part of the reason this short film works as well as it does. It’s atmospheric in its storytelling. January weaves a compelling narrative that challenges the viewer past the credits roll. This is a remarkable short film that challenges its viewers on their own convictions.
Rorschach Rating: 4.5 / 5
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