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HOME | FILMS | REVIEWS The Devil's Instrument Film Review average rating is 3 out of 5 Critic: Chris Olson | Posted on: Aug 1, 2022 Directed by: Adam B. Sergent Written by: Adam B. Sergent Starring: Austin Fletcher, Cory Spalding, Jordan Bryant, Ally Ledford Having done a deal with the devil, famous novelist Markus Cole (Austin Fletcher) attempts to undo his pact with Daemon (Cory Spalding) in an intense elongated negotiation sequence whereby the pair try to out manoeuvre each other. With the lives of his family (and his own) on the line, the stakes are high, especially once a series of interspersed guests arrive to vamp up the tension. The absolute joy of watching indie films can be seeing a writer/director (in this case Adam B. Sergent) take full ownership of their piece and craft it in a way that is largely aware of its limitations and yet boldly impressive. With The Devil’s Instrument, Sergent eschews a plethora of “accepted” filmmaking practices in favour of a more stripped-down affair that is more akin to a theatre piece. The story takes place in one darkened location, with shadows everywhere to keep the audience completely focused on the handful of characters on screen - primarily Markus and Daemon. Even on a minimal budget, some filmmakers may have been tempted to shoot additional scenes to give context and variety for the viewer, yet Sergent’s brave approach pays dividends in creating a memorable and intoxicating environment. Fletcher is solid in the central protagonist’s role but it is Spalding who shines as the slick merchant of evil, constantly ribbing Markus and poetically playing with his food on screen. Ally Ledford arrives as a character we won’t name or spoil, but she absolutely steals the show in terms of performance - so much so her absence from the majority of the film seems like a crying shame. At times, many of the performances cross the line into melodrama and the theatrical nature of The Devil’s Instrument starts to feel quite awkward to watch - this is particularly notable in the closing section of the film which, again, I won’t spoil. The dialogue can also feel as wooden as a church pew in a few places. The indie film is dealing with heavy themes of good, bad, righteousness and redemption but it never forgets to be engaging. The filmmakers know the strength of the piece is in the predicament of Markus, who wants to free himself of eternal damnation at any cost, which allows the film to drench itself in peril and keep the audience continually glued throughout - regardless of the budgetary shortcomings. Whereas a film like Bedazzled - the one with Brendan Fraser - attempted to make a deal with the devil sexy and funny, The Devil’s Instrument takes a more serious approach (even if it elicits a few laughs unintentionally) and is all the same as compelling. It’s a showcasing of brave creativity and bold indie filmmaking that should be appreciated and the filmmakers can rest in the knowledge that their efforts are largely effective in creating something darkly engaging and devilishly addictive. Watch the official trailer here . About the Film Critic Chris Olson Indie Feature Film < All Reviews Next Film Review >

HOME | FILMS | REVIEWS Fading Film Review average rating is 2 out of 5 Critic: Joe Beck | Posted on: Feb 24, 2022 Directed by: Anthony Vander Written by: Tofi Sodobu, Olumide Sodobu, Suzi Ewing Starring: Gabriella Agbenosi, Temi Omowaye It’s no secret that acid attacks are a huge problem in London. In 2017 alone there were 472 and in 2019 London was described as the ‘acid attack hotspot of the western world’. It’s become as frequent a crime as burglaries or stabbings, leaving victims scarred for the rest of their lives. Whilst ‘Fading’ recognises this issue and makes a valiant attempt to address it - it never quite goes beyond the quality of a video you’d get shown in high school. ‘Fading’ tells the story of an acid attack, and the effects that it has on the victim, the perpetrator and those around them. The largest issue is that we’re supposed to see the attack and the problems it creates for Steph (Gabriella Agbenosi) as though we should care for her. We’re supposed to empathise with her plight as she is effectively disowned by her mother and left isolated and broken. However, we’re given no reason to feel any emotion for her - as far as we can tell she’s just decided to throw acid at her best friend Cynthia (Temi Omowaye) for no apparent reason. That’s no way to bring the audience on side with your character. Cynthia’s story of recovery is far more engaging and rather inspirational because we have a reason to feel for her. As she struggles to comprehend that her best friend could do such a thing, then goes through the trauma of having to return to normal life again, we’re given reason to hope and to sympathise with her. Unfortunately, the section that focuses on Cynthia, and the rest of the short, is held back by some sub-par acting. Neither of the two leads are believable - though they may have been held back by a similarly torrid script - and both of their deliveries are off. Their performances are still the two best in the short, however, as much of the supporting cast appear to have read their lines straight from a cue card. It’s often stilted and lacks flow, with unnatural pauses in lines and two-second breaks as they wait to respond to the other actor. This problem is only amplified by the script, which is unnatural and the dialogue feels extremely unrealistic. When there are three writers on a short film the phrase ‘too many cooks spoil the broth’ comes to mind, and that is certainly the case here, where instead of refining it, the script has become too bloated with everyone’s ideas. Another issue came in the form of sound mixing an audio inconsistency, with conversations switching from extremely loud to a whisper regularly. However, it must be said that the direction from Anthony Vadnder is solid, if unremarkable, and depicts London as the gloomy, urban jungle that it is. There’s some pretty nifty camerawork as it circles around Steph for a prolonged period, emphasising her loneliness and regret. Also, the soundtrack was atmospheric and sustained interest in the moments when the story reaches a lull. It’s a good thing that the soundtrack is so atmospheric as there are plenty of lulls along the way - not helped by the acting or script. At the end of the day, ‘Fading’ may be no better than a video from high school, but its heart is in the right place and it tells an important story, whilst also giving some important advice before the credits. About the Film Critic Joe Beck Short Film < All Reviews Next Film Review >

HOME | FILMS | REVIEWS Eye Without a Face Film Review average rating is 1 out of 5 Critic: Alicia Moore | Posted on: Aug 8, 2021 Directed by: Ramin Niami Written by: Ramin Niami Starring: Dakota Shapiro, Luke Cook, Vlada Verevko, Rebecca Berg “An agoraphobic young man named Henry (Dakota Shapiro,) living with Youtuber and struggling actor Eric (Luke Cook,) hacks the webcams of young women. He begins to suspect that one of them is a serial killer and cannibal.” When writing reviews, I want to open with something that will make others feel intrigued enough to read and explore more of the text. However, there is no comparison between a three minute read and a nearly two hours long film – it is imperative to gasp viewers almost immediately in film. Eye Without a Face unfortunately leaves you wondering if there will ever be a moment of true intensity; one weighted enough for you to become part of the horror story that is strenuously unfolding. Eye Without a Face progresses very slowly, in both the storyline and visually through cinematography. The story doesn’t expand at all and eventually just becomes predictable. Not predictable in a familiar ‘well, at least I can expect any sudden terrors now’ type of way, it feels more disappointing that you can instantly guess where the story is leading and how it will conclude. As well as this, there are elements of backstory introduced that aren’t expanded upon efficiently either. My guess is that such a painful backstory given to Henry was to make viewers feel conflicted within themselves; to feel empathy and sympathy for someone who is, simply put, a criminal. But because of the lack of further explanation it doesn’t have that effect. I felt a bit like Henry as I was watching the film – stuck in a dimly lit room in front of my computer, surrounded by unnerving silence that made me squirm in my seat. Maybe that was the intent, to make viewers feel as if they are part of Henry and his troubles, but if that was the intent then it definitely could have been executed better. I wish I was squirming like a fish out of water because I felt compelled by the horror in front of me but I was simply flapping around in hopes that the silence would collapse in on itself sooner or later. There are some wonderful shots to pinpoint throughout the film. There are many repeated sequences used throughout too which does add some good context to Henry’s surroundings and the outside environment that he struggles with, but there’s only so much repeating you can let your eyes take in. These up-close, computer screen sequences could have made a huge impact if they were rapidly used within the first quarter of the film. This would have given audiences a wider insight into the characters’ lives before the focus of blood and knives decide to ensue. Dismissing the repetitive aspect though, one of my favourite shots throughout Eye Without a Face is the long running introduction to Henry’s house window. The suspense this scene in particular gives at the start of the film is amazing; I just wish camera work like this was used more often and more appropriately throughout the film to better build on atmosphere. The acting is alright overall — most of the written dialogue can make it extremely hard at times to either take some characters seriously or to not recoil in discomfort at their choice of words. I do have to commend Dakota Shapiro for his portrayal of Henry; especially in the ending climax. It would be incredible to see him work on another character with deeper, disturbed emotions since his great understanding of this side of acting and how he can use his tone of voice, volume and body language to portray these emotions almost felt wasted here. Eye without a Face takes an interestingly modern approach to horror through the use of technology while also incorporating the dangers of social media. It may not be as ‘chilling’ as other films in a similar category, Unfriended immediately comes to mind here, but it will make you want to tape up all of your webcams for sure… so if you want a striking addition to any paranoia on this subject, give it a watch. Eye Without a Face will be on digital 23 August 2021. About the Film Critic Alicia Moore Digital / DVD Release < All Reviews Next Film Review >

★★★★ Directed by: #ChristopherDeakin Starring: #GemmaWhiteley, #AdamMercuryBrown, #JoyceBranagh, #AshleyGregory, #EleanorJessicaRoberts Short Film Review by: Alexandra James A Happy Ending is a spoof reality television show that pokes fun at some of the court room dramas we see today. The show focuses on a young married couple and displays their inner conflicts with one another. For wife Lizzie, she is prepared to divorce her husband for not ever being able to satisfy her in all areas…but specifically in the bedroom! This dark comedy is a combination of Judge Judy, Love Island dramas and absurdity all wrapped up in a show called ‘Out of Order.’  For main character Lizzie, regrettably, this was unforgiveable, and she was ready to take her life into her own hands, her husband’s money and then leave him! However, as the drama progresses, certain secrets come to light and the audience discover that Lizzie is not as squeaky clean as she presents herself to be. As like many of these shows, the audience feed off this scandal and the juicier the scandals become, the better! The short film begins in a court room, its all lights, camera action as the jury take their seats and listen to Ms Who’s tales of woes and the lack of satisfaction she has had to endure for a good few years. Their marriage is in turmoil and there’s no coming back from this, especially when we find out husband David Ducksoup has been going to certain places alone to get his kicks elsewhere…For our Judge this appeared to be a clear-cut case, however, certain witnesses began to shed light on the couple’s marriage which left the judge having to make some tough decisions. A Happy Ending is a witty and outrageous film that keeps you hooked until the very end. It was great to see some of those ‘behind the scenes’ moments where the director instructs some of the reality stars to add more tears at this point or show your angry side when you say this line. Many people believe each scene is authentic and completely unfabricated. However, nothing we see on TV is ever how it truly is, which made for a hilarious premise and managed to break down that wall between fact and fiction and showed us exactly what was behind the curtain. The characters themselves were very funny and combined with the comical storyline and dialogue, it makes for an entertaining show that I would certainly be investing in if it came into fruition!

★★★ Starring: #DevonGrevious, #NateReynolds, #TylerMcCray Directed by: #NateReynolds Short Film Review by: Alexandra James Shear Disturbance focuses on the theme of anxiety and how much it can affect day to day activities such as the simple act of getting a haircut. For protagonist Tyronne, this typical action becomes far more than that and is such a trigger that he becomes completely consumed by even the thought of it. This can be a very real experience for many people that suffer with anxiety, it can become debilitating and stop you from going about your daily life. Director Nate Reynolds portrays these struggles and highlights the importance of patience and understanding when interacting with a person struggling to keep their anxiety under control. The narrative itself is very simple and I think although this is a short film, it would have been great to truly expose the pain within the anxiety. It would have helped the storyline further to pull back the covers of Tyronne’s mind and provide the audience a sense of what it feels like to have this fear. The physical signs were apparent with the trembling and shyness when speaking to the barbers. However, a cutaway of Tyronne’s mental state would convey the severity and seriousness of his condition. It was interesting to see the negativity towards Tyronne as well, the barber seemed to have little to no patience and believed that Tyronne was wasting his time and essentially fooling around. Nate was able to suggest that we need to be more perceptive and recognise the signs of anxiety to help that person and bring them into a calmer and more relaxed environment to support and keep their anxiety under control. Unfortunately, for Tyronne, the experience became all too much, and he was unable to control his emotions and left the shop disappointed in himself. However, another barber came out after him and reassures him that he is not alone. In fact, he has also experienced these feelings and encourages Tyronne to speak with someone to overcome his struggles. Shear Disturbance has a message within, and director Nate Reynolds uses this short film to tear down the stigma and shame of living with anxiety and instead, Reynolds concentrates on the importance of speaking about this subject and sharing these struggles as this will ultimately educate others to understand more about the experience as well as learn how to help and manage them.

★★★★★ Starring: #IsidoraFairhurst, #MiaMckennaBruge, #RitaBernardShaw, #DaniDyer, #MalachiPullarLatchman Directed by: #TeddyNygh Short Film Review by: Alexandra James Watch What I Do is an all-female cast and short drama. It focuses on 3 teenage girls in secondary school attempting to navigate their way through friendship, social status, and their love for basketball. Being a teenager today can be a difficult transition, emotions and arguments become heightened and at this point in life. Conflicts at this age are all consuming and it becomes difficult to break away and see the light, as well as ignore the negativity. This becomes the case for protagonist Layla, as she struggles to become friends with the new girl joining the group. Layla often feels excluded and is unable to connect with Nikki, who chooses to disregard or shame Layla as a form of one-upmanship making her appear to be the ‘popular’ friend out of the group. Layla must find a way to channel her anger and focus on what is most important to her, true friendship, and her passion for sport. Layla’s skills in basketball become clear when she walks past a court and jumps at the chance to make a shot, she is encouraged by the other players to join and be a part of the team. However, through fear of ridicule she shy’s away from this opportunity and ignores their praise. Instead, she is left feeling embarrassed and even more of an outcast by showing an interest in the sport. It became evident that Layla has some form of anger issues which she needs to work on. Layla often represses these thoughts of violence and aggression; the viewer is given snippets of Layla’s frustrated mind with use of cutaway shots. Her anger becomes fuelled when faced with conflict, and unfortunately for Layla she becomes tested to her limit as Nikki starts to put a wedge between her and her friendship with Kezia. Layla has managed to control this anger for a long period of time, however, like a bubbling pot, it does not take long for this anger to spill. The characters are extremely relatable, especially to teenagers growing up and learning to adapt and change throughout their school years and rise above the hate. Director Teddy Nygh breaks down some of the barriers that stop kids from being their true selves. Nygh highlights that for Layla, basketball gives her the chance to channel her energy, focus and discover some new friends who follow a similar passion. This was a great story, and the characters were able to really convey that emotion of betrayal, fear, hurt but also happiness and the importance of friendship. It was an enjoyable watch and the interactions between each character were engaging throughout, you really feel for Layla’s character and want her to overcome her fears and see the true bond between her and Kezia.