It’s been a bit since we’ve gotten a chance to check out some new films, but now it’s time to do just that. With a small break taken after the incredible HollyShorts Film Festival, now seems like a good opportunity to enjoy another selection of terrific films from some innovative and talented filmmakers. Let’s not waste any more time and instead, let’s take a look at the over a dozen films that are available at this month’s screening!
Monkey-Love, Please Hold – Greg Fox writers and directs this film that sees Dan Mousseau as Ben, a lonely and isolated man whose life consists of online porn, solo karaoke and a lot of loneliness in the wake of a breakup. It’s not until an unexpected delivery makes its way to him that things change his life. His journey from that moments takes quite the turn as he finds himself in the unlikeliest of circumstances. This is a wonderfully strange film that is really tough to explain, but is absolutely ridiculous and fantastic. Mousseau and co-star Hannah Galway are a combined force of nature in this film, with an incredible chemistry.
Special Delivery – A mock trailer for one of the most terrifying horror films to ever be conceived, this short film takes the idea of having kids young and makes it what it really can be for some: a panic inducing nightmare for the young couple who wants to enjoy their lives before settling down. It uses the tropes of horror film trailers exceptionally, satirically mimicking the pace and tenor of these types of films and really amping up the tension. Starring Justine Krueger and Bryan Duff, this Andrew Melzer short is a perfect encapsulation of the feelings many young people have when they find their long term partner and live begins to get change for them.
Oh Deer – Director Richard C. Jones stars and is joined by young Gideon Jones in this dark comedy about the trials and tribulations of parenting in this short that shows a father and child having to deal with what happens when you hit a deer on the roadside. It takes quite the turn near the end, with a genuinely dark, funny moment that really makes this a surprise favorite. This is one that you won’t want to miss.
Lamb – Linna Carter and Carmen Scott star in this very fun film that sees Sam and Maria (Carter and Scott) talk through the rumors and issues of the relationship of two friends as they wait for them to arrive. As the conversation evolves, it also becomes about Sam and Maria themselves, highlighting some of their issues and concerns, all while waiting for the main course, a rack of lamb, to finish cooking. It’s a great film that explores couple dynamics in a very interesting way, while keeping it as a simple bottle film. Excellent work by the cast and by writer/director Lynna Yee.
Give It To Me – Courtney Hope Therond directs in this film written by and starring Olivia Cade, that focuses on a woman who attempts to use a sex worker to relive and overcome a sexual trauma. Mallory Corinne co-stars with Cade as the two power through trauma, empowerment and realization in this charged and impressive film. It’s so thrilling to see the myriad ways in which trauma can be handled, and this film treats that process with respect, focusing on how consent and a gained confidence can do so much to help someone through such a damaging experience.
I Can See – Writer and director Horace Oliver delivers on this incredibly interesting and unique film that shows the struggles of a visually impaired fisherman, who with his damaged sight, is having a hard time not only providing for himself, but also for his community and his newly expanded family. It’s only after an unrelated tragedy that Jojo (Gotham Bhagat) finds an unexpected reprieve while out fishing with best friend Zeq (Mruthyunjaaya Hiremath). This is a hard film to describe, but one that should not be missed.
The Meal – Emily Skye writes and directs this very amusing short that focuses on a business dinner between co-workers that takes an unexpected turn, at least to one of the people attending. When what is believed to be a secret is revealed during the meal, the reactions of those in attendance changes the dynamic of the group, for better or worse, depending on who is asked. The cast is delightful, with an ensemble group lead by Mary Cameron Rogers and including Rahul Rai, Carolina Alvarez, Nare Israelyan, Sandy Hackett and Debra De Liso, all of whom are excellent in this piece.
From The Flesh – Writer/director Hunter Livingston delivers on a fantastically scary film that stars Kennedy Walsh as Noa, a young singer who finds a new youth choir, one that may not have the same evangelical goals as she does. This film does an excellent job of building up the tension without giving much of a reprieve, as the assumed intent of this group continues to get more and more unsettling, with great additional tension being added by quick flashes of some pretty unsettling imagery. Excellently done by Livingston, and very well acted by Walsh and the rest of the cast.
Men Grieving – Adam Peliter’s film about grief and the lengths people will go to rid themselves of it is a wonderful, funny tale that stars Peltier, Lucas Brahme and narration from Amanda Montell that see Peltier and Brahme meeting in the waiting room to fill out paperwork for an experimental drug that could take away their grief. This is an odd and quirky film that is expertly directed by Peltier, who uses the camera to great effect, using interesting angles and perspectives. This is a film that is both heavy and darkly funny in moments as they confront their emotions, each other, and the very concept of grief itself. It’s a fascinating film that has a unique take on what going through major losses can do to a person.
Creepers – Set to the music of The Midnight, this short gives the audience that fun, action-packed music video feel as we follow Taylor (Taylor Krasne) as she makes her way to a party. As she arrives, she is beset upon by a unsettling figure that really puts a hamper on the night. Krasne is joined by James Austin Kerr and Michelle Shock, who both perform their roles excellently. Just an excellent vaporwave action short, directed by Leo Kei Angelos and Darren Bailey, who also earns a writing credit. Bailey gets a story credit as well, along with Krasne, all of whom should be lauded for their contribution to this extremely entertaining film.
Dinner For Six – Emily Kranking co-directs (along with Curtis and Thomas Nishimoto), writes and stars in this delightfully sweet film that sees Zoey, a disabled woman, go on her first date, much to the joy of her family. When Zoey arrives for the date, however, she is surprised to see that her date with Chris (Richard Dobson) isn’t for two, as her family has decided to spy on the date to ensure it goes well for her. It’s a heartwarming and fun film that really shows the creativity and inspiring stories that the Easterseals disability challenge have become known for.
Ghost Bae – Another entry into the Easterseals Disability Challenge, Aisha Singleton’s film shows the lonely life of a woman (played by Marisa Llamas) as she housesits for a friend. The lonely actor is visited and romanced by the specter of a 50’s actor (Matt Catanzano) who inspires and provides company for her. It’s an adorable film that is well acted by both Llamas and Catanzano, who truly embody both the new generation of actors trying to make it in the industry and the aesthetics of the past generation in a beautiful meshing of the two eras.
Souls Of My Feet – Also part of the Easterseals Disability Challenge, this film, written by Francine Daniels and directed by Stacie E. Hawkins stars Daniels, whose lifelong physical disability is shown as not a detriment but as a source of inspiration as she helps others, becoming a bit of a local hero. This is no more apparent than when a friend comes by to thank her for her advice, only to find out more about this condition. It’s during this reveal that Frankie (Daniels) finds out that despite of, and possibly because of, her disability, she’s become a hero to those in her life, which is juxtaposed by her disdain for the fictional heroes of comic books, which is the topic of discussion from those around her. Daniels and co-star Devon Edwards are wonderful in this, with a great chemistry that makes this look as though they had a blast making it. Daniel’s story is an inspiring one, and one that everyone should take a look at as a way to help inspire others in their own lives.
Dragonfly – There are events in history that simply do not get spoken about in the way they should. Those that are on the level of other atrocities that people have suffered, and this animated film shows that in a way that is both personal and under exposed. During World War II, so much is said about the incredible and unspeakable loss of life that was suffered at the hands of the American atomic bomb, but little is said about an American attack on Japan that took just as many lives: the napalm bombing of the Shitamachi district of Tokyo. Writer, director and star Julia Morizawa gives voice to the over 100,000 lives lost in this attack, and to the one million people left homeless as their entire lives were razed by the bombings. Helping Morizawa tell this story are Miya Kodama, Erica Ishii and Thomas Isao Morinaka as the story is told from the perspective of a young mother, who, along with her husband and child, have to flee as the attack occurs around them. The impact of this story is hard to describe, and the fact that this is spoken about so little is a tragedy in and of itself. A big thank you to Morizawa and the team on this film for helping to shed some light on such a horrific and tragic event, bringing a personal touch to this unspeakable pain in a way that is both beautiful and powerful.
Hell Week – Written by and starring Mirejah Cruz and directed by Kassy Mahea, this short gives a fictionalized and heightened take on PMDD (Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder), which is a heightened form of Premenstrual Syndrome. In this film, the “Hell Week” is the time in which Nikki (played wonderfully by Cruz) is going through this, leading to her own personal struggles with emotional control, food and alcohol consumption and mental stress, among other things. It’s a darkly funny film as we see how her demeanor changes, and the ways in which Mahea directs this is brilliant, using lighting effects, camera cuts and the dual performance of Cruz as Nikki and her embodiment of her disorder in ways that really elevate the film. This film is a very unique take on something that affects people who menstruate, especially those who are dealing with this additional effect, and it’s a take that is done very well.
Canary – Writer Jasper Chen and director Taka Tsubota tell the story of Alan, a young man who is forced to stay with those he thought to be his allies as the world is taken over by horrors around him. Forced by these outside elements to stay inside, Alan has to deal not only with the world past his doorway looking to kill him, but also the abuse of those he’s forced to stay with as they torment him brutally. Barron Leung does an excellent job in this film, really portraying the struggle of having to decide whether or not to face the monsters outside his walls or to deal with the pain he’s facing inside them. A difficult to watch but incredibly well done film by everyone involved.
Fuck Me, Richard – A great entry here from Lucy McKendrick, who writes, stars and directs (along with Charlie Polinger) this very interesting film that focuses on Sally, a lonely woman with a broken leg and an empty romantic life. Looking for love online, she meets the charming and seemingly perfect Richard, who is all she’s ever wanted, aside from the fact that his love may be more grift than romance. This is the type of film that will really resonate with people, especially as more and more find their romantic connections online. There are so many staples of the way long-distance or online relationships are conducted in this, bringing a relatable and fascinating look into the way people behave when there’s distance or vulnerability in a relationship. While not seen, McKendrick is joined in this by the voice of Nathan Wallace, who pairs well with McKendrick in terms of chemistry. Really well done by everyone involved.
Get Away – One of the more fun horror films of this Halloween month block, Michael Gabriele gives us a proper short and spooky story of three friends who head out of a vacation to a remote house in the desert, free of the modern shackles of wifi, cell service and most modern technology. In fact, the only real technology in the house is an old television, a VCR, and a lone tape that send the lives of Laurie (Erika Lane Enggren), Nancy (Steph Martinez) and Alice (Lisa Jacqueline Starrett) into terror as the old VHS tape has much more to it than was originally believed.
El Cadejo – This Spanish language film by Jalmer Caceras, it focuses on Omar, a young Salvadoran boy who is entering his journey into manhood. Tragedy strikes when the South American demon El Cadejo kills his brother, setting off a chain of events that will prompt him to make some rash choices as his family grieves. Johnny Fabrizio Alburquerque stars as Omar, while his father Alejandro is played by Peter Pasco, with Elizabeth Lamboy-Wilson joining them as Alejandro’s mother. It’s an intense and beautifully shot film that brings a lot of thrilling fear into it as we watch this family and community doing what they can to defend from this monster of myth.
That will do it for this month! Please enjoy all of these very special films, either in person at the TCL Chinese Theater in Los Angeles on October 30th, or on BitPix! As always, a big thank you to the filmmakers who allowed us to see their work, to everyone who makes these screenings possible, and to everyone who takes the time to read this and watch the films. Until next time!
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