During a romantic date night, a couple questions the various elements of a horror movie that keeps their views of those movies, polarized. During a film screening festival featuring Loren Lopre's Dark Military, we were treated to a key gem piece of artwork like this short film. Not knowing anything about this piece, outside of the short synopsis, we watched with an open mind and was astonished by what was on screen. The realism of the conflict to the character interactive was an amazing part of this short film and the direction was one of the best parts of the film. A Storied Date Night! Everyone has watched an adventurous and scary horror film by themselves or with a special someone in a way, one doesn't believe in the source material. From the start of this film, you are welcomed to a few horror cliques already and it doesn't stop from there. For example, we see a dark and low lite hallway with echoes of screams and torture effects ensuing the mood of this film to be just that. Setting the mood right away is key and this film does it justice. A newly found couple spends a nice calm night watching a horror movie. Nick, played by Baker Chase Powell, is that one skeptic on not being effected by the normal every day, run of the mill, horror movies and points out that the studios today make the same exacted horror movies, sequels or not. He is compared to that one teen/young adult, who would watch a horror movie and not get scared, but the first to be afraid and scream during a Halloween Haunted House attraction. On the other side, the ever so gorgeous and dangerously smart, Leah, played by Nosheen Phoenix, pulls Nick off his horror soapbox and into the reality of it. Their chemistry is very on point when it comes to that non-believer and believer of horror movie characteristics. Both character setup each other for that one good scare. Once we are introduced to them and their motives, the story takes an interesting take on modern day horror films. The action picks up once their movie concludes. The director and its writer is one brilliant and creator artist in a way that sheds light on only Nick's Fears and brings them closer to the forefront. From the first frame to the last, everything seems to be on edge from what Nick experienced on the TV versus real live. For instance, as they sleep, they are wickedly awoken by someone or something, but like all other horror movies, the Leah makes Nick overcome his fears obstinately. This one scene is a creepy one for sure, but makes Nick more human and vulnerable more than he was in the beginning. I won't give too much away since we don't want to rob the viewing audience of this very enjoyable short film. Vexed, Directed by Marc Cartwright, manages blends most, if not all, the sub genres of horror movies in this short and clever take of a modern day horror film fans. Outside of playing the lead actor, Nick, Baker Chase Powell also wrote this imaginative and apprehensive script and also co-produced along with director Marc Cartwright. They do a fantastic job bring all of the horror tropes and real life acknowledgment of movie versus real life. Both Powell and Cartwright hit all the right buttons to ignite all the scares, laughs and proper homage to those who paved the way for films like this one. Vexed is such wonderfully edited, paced, and shot and block, that the smallest errors can be missed by the viewer by only watching it once. For example, there is a scene were Leah begins to make popcorn after turning off the movie and TV (By Nick) as he [Nick] heads to bed. This doesn't really make sense unless she is watching another film, which was never stated nor hinted at. Granted, I know this may be nitpicking; however, every scene you show should have meaning towards the story in general or you will loss/confuse the audience and may not get them back. Vexed: A dangerous game
All in all, when watching this short film, I felt like the audience themselves is right inside that house with these two characters. During the whole film, you feel for Leah and how she adapts with the horrendous feeling that she may have for her boyfriend, Nick. Both awarding winning actors, Baker and Nosheen, are played off one another like a typical couple should be while caring and annoying one another. For instance, Leah herself loves the inclination of being scared, but loathes it when a person doesn't believe in the power of one good scare. On the other hand, Nick implies that all horror movies and fans are dumb for being scared of something that isn't real, but just on a "screen". That is what makes this short film work well. In the way that the director and writer sets up these acts, pacing and blocking as well as how the actors interact. This makes a short film like this, a fresh, award winning and a visual piece of modern contemporary film work that you have to see for a great short film. The Independent Film Corner rating: 4 out of 5 Stars (Guaranteed Fresh) IMDB Rating: 7.4 out of 10 Vexed IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt4934228/?ref_=fn_al_tt_2 Vexed Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mwb9NnPx47 Vexed Website: https://www.glasscabinfilms.com/vexed Glass Cabin Films Website: https://www.glasscabinfilms.com/
0 Comments
|
bRANDON
During a few talks with independent companies and people, we have received a few emails about reviewing independent, short or long, films. We have created the Independent Corner for all things Independent!!! These film review may have the same format, but will be a different feel then the Hollywood treatment of our main Film Corner reviews. Please bear with us in constructing this new page. Archives
August 2020
Categories
All
|