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★★★★ Directed by: #SriKandula Starring: #SabelleCaviston, #AJCollevecchio, #AdamMyers Short Film Review by: Alexandra James A short student film directed by Sri Kandula, What Remains is a thriller that is set in a post-apocalyptic world. There are few survivors, and there are cannibalistic creatures which are roaming the earth. The only thing that is keeping them alive is instinct and sticking together. Grace becomes a lone traveller after her fiancé’s death, she is fearful but determined to survive. Grace soon meets another lost soul though her travels called Oscar, a mute and timid guy who feels there is something about Grace he can’t trust, especially when her past keeps coming back to haunt her. What Remains focuses on this theme of survival, testing the limits of just how far you would go to save your own skin. As they fight to just exist, a piece of themselves eventually breaks away until they are further and further away from being human. This short film throws the audience directly within the heart of the action, what was great is that the film had similar vibes to John Krasinski’s A Quiet Place. Although there are some plots that need a bit more explanation, there are films such as this, where that is not necessary, and a simpler storyline can create just as great an impact. Instead, we are led into a barren landscape, in rough weather conditions and barely any food around. This made for a compelling watch and a sense of curiosity as to why this was happening to them. As Oscar and Grace stumble across each other, they stick together throughout, clearly longing for some form of human interaction and to feel that sense of protection. Both Grace and Oscar were troubled characters in their own way, however, the bond between them was evident, this could be interpreted as pure desperation for human contact or they relied on one another to make it through. They had a Ying and Yang feel about their personalities which made for a strong pairing and an exciting adventure. The camera work to this film was fantastic, the shots were diverse, and the locations used for the harsh landscapes strengthened that dark and unnerving theme. Sri Kandula is an Indian-born American writer with a strong passion for film having studied Film-Video at Pennsylvania State University. His keen eye for detail allows him a lot of scope to experiment and find a cinematic style that reflects his passion and interest in macabre and nightmarish themes. This is definitely one to watch and it will be great to see how Sri progresses with more experience as well as bigger and better ideas and twists to his narratives.

★★★ Directed by: #DianaGalimzyanova Starring: #MarriaRoslova, #ArturSemenduev, #DmitryKrupin Short Film Review by: Alexandra James Sheep F-cked In the Head is a music video which portrays a woman on a night out drinking and enjoying herself to the extreme. However, throughout the video she is constantly approached by men, and some of the advances towards her are consensual, and some are not, and yet they still tried to take advantage. This video highlights some of the common scenarios many women face daily, and certainly when drinking or out in a night club. Diana Galimzyanova is the director of this video and combined with Marria Rosllova’s lyrics, the piece explores the subject of women and the role in which we are expected to play, as well this subject of what it means to be a woman. The video began in a very powerful way, young girl, dressed up and walking into to the nightclub with confidence and attitude. Her main aim is to just drink the night away, and as her drinking becomes heavier and heavier, men start to approach and begin to test the boundaries. Sheep F-cked In the Head was quite hard hitting and extremely truthful in a way, the main protagonist certainly appeared powerful and looked pretty much done with all the bulls**t as the men began to surround her! However, it was great to see a video that highlights issues which are prominent in society. I think if I were to liken the character to someone, it would be Phoebe Waller-Bridge from Fleabag. A woman that has no filter and is unapologetically herself. Female characters that carry a lot of energy and rage make for fantastic protagonists and we instantly become drawn to them. Some of the scenes were very repetitive and considering this is only a 2-minute video, the audience craved those diverse, new, and exciting locations and scenes as there is only a short window to grab our attention. The opening of this music video was strong and introduced the audience to a fiery character, however, it would have been good to keep this energy up throughout. Regardless, this was a fascinating music video that had style, attitude and focus on some very real issues.

Filmmaker Interview by Chris Olson Hi Aimie, many thanks for speaking with us. Where in the world do we find you right now? Hello from Glasgow, Scotland! Not the sunniest location by any means but it is home. You have a new short film, Unravelling, currently in Post-Production which you wrote and directed. What's the plot and how did this story originate? Unravelling is a harrowing exploration of multiple sclerosis through a young woman who becomes plagued by a strange physical manifestation sprouting from her body while helping declutter her chronically ill grandmother's cottage. But when ripping out these thorns leads to debilitating consequences, Fiona must learn to accept her condition or else be consumed by it. After years of watching my uncle slowly deteriorate and then being diagnosed myself in 2020, I guess Unravelling started as a creative exercise to process. But I quickly realised that writing my experiences down wasn't enough, that I needed to immerse others into my life with this invisible horror. Even though it has been a challenging experience it has been cathartic to face my illness on my terms... not to mention scaring some people along the way. Haha! This is your 7th short film, how was it different making a film this time? Whether it's the first film or the 100th, every project has its own unique quirks and pitfalls that you must learn how to navigate as a filmmaker but I've found that a big difference comes down to the support you have around you. Unravelling wouldn't exist without my producer and friend, Serena Gardner encouraging me to dig deep as a writer. Thanks to the opportunity to collaborate with wonderful industry professionals and emerging talent, I felt safe in sharing this extremely personal story while also pushing myself as a writer/director. What are you hoping audiences take away from watching Unravelling? Besides terrifying them? I want to take the audience to question what they think they know about an invisible illness like multiple sclerosis by taking them on a journey. To immerse the audience in this waking nightmare while still being able to find a shred of hope. Life with MS doesn't start in a wheelchair or disability and isn't limited to the elderly, so why does the media portray it as so? What have been the challenges of making the film? I'd say some of the biggest challenges I faced while making Unravelling was learning how to work with the Blazing Griffin execs during the script development. Receiving feedback is never fun but it helped push me to write a more honest, and personal, story and the film is much stronger for it! Also, the overall ambitiousness of the project challenged me, working with intricate SFX, Steadicam and a body double contortionist on set were definitely firsts in my #filmmaking career but I am so excited to see how it's all elevated the film. Is there anything our readers can do to help support the film? Even though we have filmed Unravelling, we still need a little help to finish this ambitious film. Through our current Indiegogo campaign, we hope to crowdfund extra funds to help cover post-production costs. No donation is too small to make a difference so please pledge today to help us smash our goal. https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/unravelling-short-horror-film-post-production/ What's next for you, after this short? My plan after this short is to develop Unravelling into a feature while looking into future funding opportunities. I'd love the opportunity to build off this experience of working with a bigger budget and with industry professionals while I continue to forge a career as a prolific filmmaker. Why do you make movies? Film has always been an influence in my life: the thrill of evoking emotions, challenging perceptions and exploring new worlds. It is this passion for immersing audiences in surreal and fantastical stories of my own that drives me to make films. #ChrisOlson #FilmmakerInterview

Filmmaker Interview by Chris Olson Hi Charlie, many thanks for speaking with us. Where in the world are you right now? I'm currently based in Metro Manila. Your most recent short film, Through the Viewfinder, looks like a powerful piece. How would you describe the film to a new audience? Through the Viewfinder is a narrative experimental short that follows a photographer with glaucoma who documents his life as he goes blind. It explores different aspects of blindness, from how it significantly changes different aspects of your life to how it could affect the lives of the people around you. As a blind filmmaker, how important was making this film to you? It was important to me because it was my first time confronting my low vision through a film. At the time, I wasn't ready to write it myself and I was just really lucky to have a friend who I could trust so much with writing the story. Jake has always been an incredible writer and he really made sure to talk to me about my eyesight during the writing process. What were the challenges of getting Through the Viewfinder made? I was very new to this style of filmmaking. The treatment for some parts were very experimental and it was mostly a matter of figuring out what the best narrative approach would be. I'm glad to say that I learned a lot from the production of this film and it really impacted my style of writing and directing. Where can people see the film? Our plan for now is to continue premiering in festivals. We recently had our first premiere at the 2023 Gawad Sining Short Film Festival in Manila, but I plan to have special live screenings of the film within the next few months or so. Nothing's final yet. You have made short films before, such as Love Again and Romuelda. What do you love about making short films? My experiences with Love Again and Romuelda were very different from each other. Love Again was a sad romantic musical while Romuelda was a really short political satire. Through the Viewfinder was the most heartbreaking among the three, I'd say. I guess what I love about making shorts is how creative you have to get just to send a message across or to tell a story. There are so many ways to tell a story that spans years of a person's life in less than a few minutes of runtime. It's that uniqueness that makes it so challenging but also so fun. What's next for you and your filmmaking? I'm currently in the process of writing my thesis film. It's called Babe sa Mata ng Bulag ("Women in the Eyes of the Blind"), but it's more about feminism than it is about disability. I'll be releasing it sometime in 2024. What film (or films) have inspired you and why? Honestly, no specific film inspires me as a filmmaker entirely. For Love Again, it was Noah Baumbach's Marriage Story. Babae sa Mata ng Bulag takes a lot of inspiration from Celine Sciamma's Portrait of a Lady on Fire. I'd say most of what inspires me are people that I've gotten to know. Sometimes it's friends, family, and sometimes it's just inspired by a really nice conversation I get to have with someone. I really owe the filmmaker and the person I've become to the wonderful people that surround me. #ChrisOlson #filmmakerinterview #interview

★★★★ Directed by: #TimothyDraper Starring: #TimothyDraper, #ShaunFotheringham, #ToddAndresen, #ChuchieZitting and #MarcHoover Short Film Review by: Alexandra James Uncharted Expedition follows team leader Timothy Draper and Shaun Fotheringham, embarking on a fantastically thrilling adventure and bringing a team together to explore and investigate treasures across Western America. Covid-19 unfortunately put a delay on the team and stopped them from making headway with their mission. However, episode 1 of this series shows the guys constructing a secure and loyal team, all keen and with the perfect expertise needed to document and make some fascinating discoveries. The series begins with Shaun and Timothy expressing their desire and passion to get their project off the ground once and for all. The pair discuss the logistics of how they would like their series to be documented and who would be the best characters to join them on their expeditions. The people involved needed to have that desire and enthusiasm for treasure hunting as well as stamina, as the pair go on to say that there will be caves and mines that they will need to explore, working mainly outdoors and in all types of weather. They certainly needed a cameraman who was quick on his feet to be able to keep up with their fast pace and capture raw footage of their ventures. It was important that every detail is captured as you never know what discoveries are going to be around the corner. With a cameraman, metal detectorists, treasure hunting specialists and lots of equipment and gear needed to begin their journey, the two men set the series up in a positive and exciting way. At the end of the episode, at the edge of St. George, Timothy shows the two men where they will begin their first treasure hunting experience. Timothy explains where the site is and the silver that is buried out there, it is said that there is a value of up to 1.5 million. This was a great way to end the series and entices the viewer in, wanting to invest more in their new projects. It would have been beneficial to include more about the expedition they are about to embark on, perhaps more of a breakdown of the location and the history of the treasure and to mention this a lot earlier on in the episode. There seemed to be a lot of repetitive dialogue throughout, as they discussed the team and their expertise, of course this is all crucial information, however, there needs to be that hook from the start. It was the camera man that directed the men and have them focus back on the mission at hand. There needs to be that guidance throughout to keep everyone on track and to not get caught up in conversation. The viewer relies on the team to explain their movements and what the journey entails, this is what drives the piece and ultimately is the sole focus. This series is interesting, exciting, and certainly aimed at adventure seekers and those that are fascinated by history. Its an informative short series, with specialists that have a lot of experience in treasure hunting, combined with the ability to make the series fun and interactive for the viewers at home, definitely one to watch.

★★ Directed by: #EugeneTan Short Film Review by: Alexandra James Eugene Tan’s short film The Mountain is about a father and son who remain sheltered in a room, fearful of what lies outside the confined walls and the dangers that it inhabits. Did I mention that this father and son are stuffed toys? This is an unusual piece that is comical, emotional, and very bizarre. A simple yet interesting short story that follows a fathers need to protect his child against the outside world, as well as understanding the importance of embracing change and the need to explore outside of one’s comfort zone. The father tries to impart some words of wisdom on his child, however, as they awake the next morning his child is missing, and the culprit is the ladybug! By combat, the father must defeat the ladybug in order to retrieve is son and bring him back to safety. It is up to the father to move beyond the realms of the room he has chosen to lock himself in, to save his son and defeat the one that has held him captive, in this case it’s a stuffed ladybug. The camera angles to this piece were limited and the shakiness throughout was slightly amateurish. Understandably, this is a home film with a small budget, however, it’s the details that can make a huge difference and even with a simple storyline, the location, sound, and cinematography need to be on point and diverse so that the audience can engage with the narrative and become blown away by the scenes. Unfortunately, this short film was undeveloped in terms of this diversity, and it was difficult to remain connected with the narrative throughout. The comedic element was there but could have been strengthened further. Eugene Tan has the components to build on this piece, however, there was not a lot of investment in its potential. I’m afraid to say that stuffed animals rolling across the floor is not a film that I can truly say amazed me, however, there is certainly a passion for cinema within this piece and it should be commended for its storyline that flowed extremely well and added a touch of key life lessons. The story teaches us to expand our horizons and move beyond the safe life bubble we create for ourselves. The Mountain can be considered deep and emotional narrative…once you accept the stuffed animal aspect.

★★★★ Directed by: #ToniVGenov Short Film Review by: Alexandra James This short documentary focuses on the incredible work of Alice Guy-Blaché, the first female director who began her career as early as 1896, experimenting with colour, visuals and sound effects in movies. Unfortunately, the reason as to why she is not heard about to this day is due to several factors. Alice was a woman in a very male dominated industry and many people tried to have her fired and removed from the set, they did not want this amount of credit being given to a woman. Moreover, many of her films were destroyed and her company did in fact go bankrupt. A lot of tragic circumstances occurred during Alice’s career; however, this documentary highlights her remarkable work and shows the world the innovations and unique perspective she had within the film industry. This film is truly enlightening and reveals to the audience a story which otherwise may have been untold. This was a fascinating short film that kept me invested throughout, I wanted to learn more about Alice Guy-Blaché’s life and discover the projects she had created and was a part of throughout her lifetime. This is a sad, yet informative piece and it is crucial that we learn about pioneers such as Alice in history, those that are sometimes forgotten yet are the ones that pave the way for many directors and artists to this day. The short goes on to explain that film during this period were essentially documentaries of everyday life and factual. However, Alice had the idea of filming fictional scenes, inspired by books (being the daughter of a book seller). It was this moment that practically changed the future of film. This spectacular idea made Alice’s career flourish and Léon Gaumont made her the Head of Production of his own company. I enjoyed the style of this documentary; it took raw footage of Alice’s life and added a modern twist to it by using Facebook group references and messaging between some of the important characters such as Alice and Léon. This certainly draws in a younger audience to want to learn more from this documentary and allows for a storyline that is snappy and flows extremely well. This type of film making is very popular and is often seen on many Netflix documentaries, it’s a style that keeps us invested and spells out the story of each character coherently and with a lot of detail. There were times that it was information overload! However, this isn’t an issue, the documentary could have slowed down in parts so that we could have a full and complete understanding of Alice’s life. It was clear that Alice’s life was rich and full, so it’s crucial that the audience can soak up all this information. This Untold Story is a great documentary that gives Alice Guy-Blaché a voice, it’s a platform which examines the value of her work and the influence she has had on directors and the film industry. Without her, cinema may not be where it is today, this type of passion and enthusiasm for cinema should be celebrated and highlighted to all.

★★★★ Directed by: Phil Dunn Written by: Phil Dunn Starring: Joshua Griffin, Shaun Mason, Ellie Piercy, Derek Elroy Short Film Review by: Chris Olson Exploring themes of love and hate, the short film The Stupid Boy by #filmmaker Phil Dunn is a powerful and affecting drama. It stars Shaun Mason as Stephen - a young man with a tragic background being groomed for a white supremacist group operating in London, and Joshua Griffin as teenage schoolboy Michael whose unique perspective of the world and unusual behaviour sees him as a target for bullies. The short film culminates in these two characters colliding. When grappling with such competing ideas of characters fuelled by hate and those being overtly kind, it can be difficult to avoid the audience becoming alienated. Dunn makes sure all his characters feel believable and relatable. Even Stephen’s growing rage is founded on a harrowing backstory of parental abuse and we are also given moments where he struggles, such as dropping a cup on the floor. This eschews villainous caricature in favour of something more empathetic, even with the rising sense of dread the viewer will feel if they have been clocking the signposts throughout the short movie. For some, it will be Michael’s journey that feels more special and intriguing, however. From his opening scene looking through an upside-down periscope at his street outside to essentially rugby tackling a new teacher with a greetings hug, his warm and inquisitive nature makes him an instantly likeable character and one that an audience is going to care for and indeed worry about. Even his parents seem to have differing viewpoints on how to approach the way the world treats someone like Michael. When it becomes apparent he had an altercation with a boy at school, his mother (Ellie Piercy) labels it bullying, whilst, after hearing Michael’s version of events, his father (Derek Elroy) simply states the boy is probably just not his friend. The Stupid Boy is packed with impressive #filmmaking, including one strong sequence involving an upside-down camera in a busy London market. The film makes use of numerous locations and additional supporting characters without every feeling baggy. In fact, it’s one of the tightest short films, telling what is actually two rather large stories at once and all within fifteen minutes. A powerful score accompanies the majority of the film and is particularly effective in the gripping final scene (no spoilers here). To deliver such an eclectic mix of emotional experiences for the viewer in such a short film is a massive achievement. The Stupid Boy, through its wonderfully written central characters, explores our vulnerabilities and strengths which often get caught in the crossfire when manipulated by others but can also be our, and others, salvation when used purposefully. #ChrisOlson #ShortFilm

Grimmfest, Manchester's International Festival of Fantastic Film, will be returning to regular venue, Manchester’s Odeon Great Northern, from 6–8 October to showcase the best in genre cinema. With the feature film lineup already announced, we are delighted to share this year’s poster artwork by Ilan Sheady, emphasising this year’s celebration on female-centric horror. But now, that celebration is set to start a day earlier, on the evening of Thursday 5 October, with a special preview screening of Joe Lynch’s SUITABLE FLESH alongside two startling short film premieres and the infamous Evolution of Horror pub quiz. Boasting a fearlessly full-on lead performance from Heather Graham (TWIN PEAKS, BOOGIE NIGHTS), SUITABLE FLESH is a vibrant, visceral and challenging contribution to the cinematic representation of Cthulhu cosmology, and a heartfelt homage to the late, great Stuart Gordon, to whom it is dedicated. Plus, an exclusive world premiere: Najarra Townsend (THE STYLIST) stars as an isolated young woman caught between a potentially predatory neighbour and her own paranoia in Stu Silverman's slippery and suffocatingly claustrophobic psychological thriller BUG. Also, in Brendan Cleaves’ SAM AND DOUG (UK premiere), a tense suburban post-lockdown spin on THE WALKING DEAD, Craig Charles, Carla Langley and Elliot James Langridge star in a tale of a desperate mother forming an unlikely friendship to save her family. We can also now reveal the lineup of short film premieres in this year's trio of programmes. Friday 6 October: NOTHING IS REAL A couple's home life grows ever more divided in Peter Collins Campbell's deadpan and disturbing VARIATIONS ON A THEME. A young man finds himself, and everyone close to him, undergoing a terrifying metamorphosis, in Matt Bentley-Viney's disquieting CATERPILLAR (Greater Manchester premiere). A young woman uses her ability to hear the voices of the recently departed to help those left behind in Nacho Solana's unexpectedly moving THERE ARE NO GHOSTS (regional premiere). A young man and his grief-stricken boyfriend come to regret their choice of holiday resort in Gus Reed's subtly nightmarish RINGING ROCKS (Manchester premiere). Two young women on the brink of romance discover that time is not on their side in Antoine Dricot's quietly devastating MEMORIES OF THE MOON (UK premiere). A couple's toxic relationship awakens something evil in Jo Smyth's fever-dream folk horror, FIND YOU HERE (Greater Manchester premiere). Saturday 7 October: WHERE THE HEART… ISN’T A man returns to the community he grew up in to discover friends and family in thrall to a sinister cult in Jesse Aultman’s macabre morality tale THE SPIRIT BECOME FLESH (international premiere). Doting parents teach their young daughter the meaning of Halloween in Sabrina Ariss's chilling TRADITION (UK premiere). Alan Dunne offers a truly terrifying glimpse of a toxic home environment in the darkly comic FAMILY NIGHT (regional premiere). An overworked young man receives a truly unwelcome phone call in James Hughes' nail-biting NO CALLER ID (world premiere). A neglected wife develops an unhealthy fixation with an insect in Stef Meyer and Pascal Bourelier's creepy and claustrophobic MANTRA (North West premiere). A young man's reunion with his biological father proves traumatic in Andrew Rutter's surreal comic nightmare THE HERITAGE (regional premiere). An infertile woman remains determined to have a baby in Michael Squid's heart-rending and utterly horrifying JANELLE'S BABY (international premiere). Sam Fox offers the ultimate “meet the parents” shocker in the truly outrageous FUK'N NUTS (UK premiere). Sunday 8 October: HERE BE MONSTERS A desperate scientist finds himself caught between marauding zombies and a food-stealing rat in Semyon Voinov's mordantly funny TRAPPED (regional premiere). A father-and-son weekend adventure becomes a terrifying fight for survival in Michael Trainotti's gripping old-school creature feature SCRATCH (international premiere). A would-be social media star discovers that success requires sacrifice in Riccardo Grippo's sour splatter-satire STARR (world premiere). A rejected young woman discovers an unlikely source of moral support in Shane Bannon's troubling A PERFECT PLACE TO CRY (European premiere). An aspiring romantic novelist becomes increasingly obsessed with a mysterious, possibly supernatural figure who haunts the library where she works in Javier Yañez Sanz's utterly horrifying BOOKWORM (UK premiere). An inebriated duo attempts to rob an antique store, only to discover that the older woman running the shop isn't quite as defenseless as she seems, in Tyler Savage's droll tale of EC Comics-style poetic justice, ODDITIES, starring genre legend Adrienne Barbeau (Manchester premiere). We can also share details of the first of this year’s confirmed guests and Festival Jury members. Joining us on this year’s blood-red carpet thus far: Raymond Wood, director of the candy-coloured and confrontational FACELESS AFTER DARK. Starring and co-written by Jenna Kanell in the wake of appearing in the first TERRIFIER, the film combines splatter, satire, vicarious vengeance, and a twist of sly metacinematic mischief to offer a pointed critique of some of the more questionable aspects of the horror genre and the ways in which fame in an era of toxic social media can prove a truly Faustian bargain. Writer-director Miguel Azurmendi, producer Antonio Rosa Lobo, and producer-actor Pablo Lapastora will represent the jaw-dropping KERATYNA, a tense, surreal spin on REAR WINDOW for the age of the internet incel conspiracy theorist. Enigmatic writer-director Quarxx will take the audience on a tour of hell in his existential portmanteau PANDEMONIUM. From the creative team of ABRUPTIO, composer and musician Patrick Savage (THE HUMAN CENTIPEDE, A CURE FOR WELLNESS, BENEDETTA, COCAINE BEAR) will be in attendance. Representing SAM AND DOUG, we will welcome actor Elliot James Langridge (HABIT, NORTHERN SOUL). Finally, Mike Muncer, founder and host, and Becky Darke, returning guest and events coordinator, of podcast THE EVOLUTION HORROR will be presenting various events in and around the festival. We will also be joined by actor-writer Adam Z. Robinson of theatre company THE BOOK OF DARKNESS AND LIGHT, who will be performing HAUNTED on Thursday night at The Lion’s Den. Mike and Becky will be hosting a special THE EVOLUTION OF HORROR pub quiz for festival attendees, with horror-themed prizes and merchandise for winners and runners up. This will take place at Lion’s Den on the evening of Thursday 5 October, after the screening of SUITABLE FLESH, BUG and SAM AND DOUG. We are also delighted to release details of this year's Festival Jury. Faced with the daunting task of debating and deliberating over this year's lineup, and determining those most deserving a visit from the Reaper, will be: Mary Beth McAndrews, film producer and editor-in-chief at Dread Central Ben Parker, screenwriter and director (BURIAL, THE CHAMBER [Grimmfest 2016]) Caroline Couret-Delègue, managing director of sales and distribution company Film Seekers Dr Xavier Aldana Reyes, reader and co-director at the Manchester Centre for Gothic Studies at Manchester Metropolitan University and co-president of the International Gothic Association Amber T, writer and journalist (Fangoria, Arrow Video, Ghouls Magazine, Grimoire of Horror) Full and day passes and individual tickets are available at https://www.grimmfest.com/festival/

★★ Directed by: Nick Gatsby Written by: Nick Gatsby Starring: Skye Armenta, Nick Gatsby, Christopher James Taylor Indie Film Review by: Chris Olson Serving up surrealist sci-fi, filmmaker Nick Gatsby invites viewers to take a “trip” with him in this experimental comedy Zapper!. Not a film for any viewer who suffers from epilepsy, the film achieves and maintains an acid-trip aesthetic throughout, constantly shifting colour and utilising a smorgasbord of special effects and wacky props (the guns are bananas). A group of higher beings engage in an annual game whereby they use lowly zappers to compete for glory. This time, the combatants are attempting to locate four puzzle pieces that have been scattered in parks near conveniently placed portholes. Together, the puzzle pieces create a mystical longboard. We follow a few different zappers along the way, who all meet with an array of treachery, gangsters, and oddball characters - with only their trusty weapon (rich in potassium and fibre) to keep them playing. It’s easy to get distracted by the visuals in Zapper! - a lot of the visual elements are fun and give the indie film a certain charm, however, with an enjoyable electronic score and effective soundscape (listen out for the use of echoing maniacal laughter), it’s a movie that has been rigorously worked on and has a lot of impressive moments. Several of the gags are also well executed, in particular a certain psychopathic moose. Sadly, the kaleidoscopic colour changes outstay their welcome and make the film an endurance test for those willing to see the movie through. The plot starts fairly strong but loses its way in the second half, with the viewer being jolted on to different protagonists not helping things. Seemingly mundane scenes get given way too much room to breathe and the actors just aren’t up to the task of keeping us intrigued with the childish dialogue and melodrama. Embarking on a hallucinatory comedy caper is a brave task and Gatsy gets a tip of the balaclava for that. Were it a full-throttled short with a cohesive plot and fewer characters, Zapper! could have gone the distance. As it is, the film is a trip few will go on and more will leave during. #ChrisOlson

★★★ Directed by: #BillSorrice Starring: #BillSorrice and #MonishaShiva Short Film Review by: Alexandra James Dyed in the Wool is a short series that follows couple Ev and Freddie. Ev has lost her job recently and the pair find themselves in some very awkward social situations as they visit friends and family and inform them of the news. Sadly, Freddie is not the type to hold back on some of his opinions and fails to live up to Ev’s expectations when it comes to social cues and general etiquette. However, many of Freddie’s gibes are not far off from what we are all thinking when it come to dealing with insufferable guests that just don’t know when to shut up! The series did not follow on from one another, each episode was its own individual comedic piece, so it made it interesting to discover something new within each episode, and new characters to connect with. Freddie is an average guy that enjoys football and drinking beer with his mates, his girlfriend Ev is polite, friendly and tries to make sure everyone around her is comfortable, the total opposite to Fred! Their relationship seemed unusual, I struggled to see the chemistry between the two, their personalities were clearly opposites. There needed to be something that bonded to the two, such as through humour or subtle glances towards one another when placed in such uncomfortable situations. The comedic side to these short episodes were great and included lots of humorous and uncomfortable moments for our main characters. It is a series that projects the normal day-to-day interactions we have in life whether this be dinner parties or catching up with old friends and shows the audience what it would be like if we did highlight the absurd behaviour of people. There was almost a Larry David vibe to the main character Fred. His unfiltered nature, alongside some rather alternative characters made for some funny moments and made it easy to relate to some of the awkward moments. Unfortunately, the drawback to this short series is the editing and camera work. This did let the scenes down a fair bit, it had an amateurish feel throughout and seemed close to a home video style. The camera angles were extremely shaky in places which made the piece look poor in quality. However, with this said, if this became tightened up and improved upon this series has a lot of potential with its strong comedy element. The main characters need to be established further and the audience need to see that connection between the two. Dyed in the Wool is a great comedy short series with hilarious characters, entertaining storylines, and strong potential.

★★★★ Directed by: #BennyWatson Starring: #SylviaClegg and #JamesWoolley Short Film Review by: Alexandra James A seemingly sweet tale of an old man who is an avid birdwatcher, living an easy life with his wife. There days are consumed by cooking for one another, dancing in their living room and taking a short drive to the forest to listen to the harmonic tunes of the birds. Unfortunately, as the story develops, we quickly learn that there is something amiss within this elderly man’s life. Although not completely obvious, the audience quickly establishes the subtle hints throughout this short film and our response changes dramatically from happiness to empathy for our protagonist. Benny Watson’s One for Sorrow adds a dark layer to this film and draws out the realities for someone suffering with dementia and what a day-to-day life looks like for some people. Stanley resides in the countryside, completely isolated from society and lives in a beautifully grand home. From the beginning, it becomes clear that Stanley is a gentle soul with simple pleasures in life. The film is black and white which at first appeared to not fit the scenes, however, it became obvious that this was intentional and reflected the dark undertones that lied beneath. Stanley was often seen speaking with his wife, this was either general chit chat regarding their dinner or the birds singing in the forest and even dancing together in the living room. Nevertheless, something appeared off about their relationship, his wife never spoke a word and the audience could never see her face. She was merely an image on screen that only Stanley was able to interact with and receive any form of response. As we witnessed more interactions they had with one another, there were hints that made it clear that Stanley’s wife was no longer around. She had no reflection in the mirror and the birds would not respond to her calls, only Stanley. It was these subtleties that really set this film a part and sent a powerful message. Stanley’s vision and the audiences were disconnected, and this really blurred the lines between reality and imaginary. The viewer was unable to trust anything that was on screen, however, to Stanley, this was his world, and his wife was with him always. He remained content within this bubble he had created, until reality began to break in, and he was entrapped in this state of confusion. This was a hard-hitting film that places the viewer in a person with dementias shoes, unable to determine reality from fantasy and the emotional and heavy struggles that come with the disease. One for Sorrow is a poignant film that expresses the hardships of living with dementia in a sensitive and powerful way. It was a truly touching, mesmeric character based short film that can be seen as bittersweet in a way by highlighting one man’s journey with dementia, and reliving memories his life.