Shhhhh

Directed by Geoff Harmer who also co-wrote the short alongside Teagan O’Brien who also stars in the short. Geoff has previously directed a lot of segments in anthology horror series such as Virus Detected (2023) and Video Shop Tales Of Terror (2023). He has also been directing short films since 1994.

Getting what you wish for isn't all that it seems. Our protagonist is a nameless content creator who we meet doing sponsorships full of buoyancy when addressing fans, getting people to like and subscribe. We have all followed or stumbled across videos and online personalities just like this. We then get glimpses into our protagonist's real life but it's not as technicolor as it seems in her videos when she's all alone. The switch in personality when on screen takes a dark turn, when fans become too close finding her location, following her, harassing her she asks simply to be left alone. But those very words get twisted and have fatal consequences.

The performances in this short were very strong as the main protagonist is our main focal point. You really need somebody that can carry the screen and hold the audience's attention. Charlotte Barnes was great at switching between that over the top influencer mode into tense quiet sequences being followed around her home.The inner turmoil as a viewer you get for balancing between the protagonist being toxic and not understanding to her fans. Or are the fans simply taking things too far. Which is an absolute credit to the actress Charlotte Barnes as you really feel torn. Alongside Teagan O'Brein who plays a fan who takes what the influencer says very personally.

The editing by Geoff Harmer himself was great especially in those moments where it gets very suspenseful. At times I almost felt like looking away from the screen anticipating a jumpscare at any moment. Hand in hand with a gripping soundtrack composed by Tyler Lawton-Bryant Also there was an interesting choice: when getting a glimpse of her at home the camera almost glitches and comes across like the film in the camera is burning away. It adds to the duality of her online personality and her dealing with the consequences of her actions.

At the heart of Shhh it’s really about how our words hold so much weight and power when she's asking to be left alone. One of her fans takes it so literally that she doesn't love her and wants her to be silent forever. It's a very relevant subject matter today as it’s constantly in the news how celebrities are being stalked and how they say one thing and it costs them their whole career.

I highly recommend checking out this short. I was invested from the beginning and glued to the screen. It handles its subject matter well and audiences will be left conflicted when the credits roll. Mixed with the classic troupe of someone alone in a house being stalked by an unknown entity or person throughout but with a twist. I feel like it could easily be turned into a feature length and explore this narrative more.