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Short Film Reviews: 'S' Titles

My reviews of 9 short films which have titles that start with the same letter: S as in Summer.

By Trevor WellsPublished 2 years ago 12 min read
11
Short Film Reviews: 'S' Titles
Photo by Sean Oulashin on Unsplash

She Must Vanish:

While mostly set on a beach like the one pictured above, She Must Vanish is a horror flick that's far from sunny. The film is about Mia (Anne-Carolyn Binette), a witch in a small town whose grisly agenda invokes an equally disturbing response from the townspeople. In addition to being morbid, She Must Vanish gets off to a slow start and leaves a lot of its plot points intentionally vague. Depending on your narrative preferences, you'll either enjoy the chance to fill in the blanks yourself or start pulling your hair out. Personally, the ambiguity (which manifests through the dialogue) is more frustrating than intriguing and calls attention to how bare-bones the story is. The minimalist cast gives good performances, the cinematography and sound design are appropriately spooky, and the conclusion is particularly ominous in its implications. But with the buildup to this ending being so lackluster, those good qualities can only carry the movie so far.

Score: 5 out of 10 bloody icepicks.

Shine:

Now for something completely different from She Must Vanish: a silent animated film about electricity, sci-fi creatures, and romance. It's a short and simple feature that follows the familiar premise of two guys attempting to woo the same girl. The biggest difference here is that Shine's love triangle is made up of a trio of electrically inclined furballs. While the story is pretty uncomplicated, Shine's lovely animation/music and quick pace make it an enjoyable and aesthetically pleasing watch. The film's surprising (and comically dark, once you think about it a little) ending and its message about the perils of "competing" for love and how you shouldn't try too hard to impress others give it the edge it needs to avoid feeling excessively fluffy. If you have 4 minutes to spare and want something funny to watch that'll also give you some sleek visuals to soak in, you just might take a shine to Shine.

Score: 8 out of 10 rooftops.

Shedim:

Now back to the horror genre! And this time, we have a short film that's a lot more straightforward than She Must Vanish. It's the age-old story of a young woman named Debbie (Nicoletta Hanssen) who is being terrorized in her own home by a supernatural creature--more specifically, a shedim. For those that don't know, a shedim is the term for a spirit or demon in Jewish mythology. While this tidbit doesn't play a role in the movie's narrative, that doesn't make Shedim any less of a great short. What livens up the familiar plot and the string of horror tropes Alexander Henderson weaves into the script is how the film justifies them and gives them nuance.

It's easy to initially dismiss Debbie as another dumb horror heroine, but once you realize she's battling mental health issues, her behavior makes sense. She's not stupidly ignoring blatant signs of paranormal activity. Instead, she's convinced that those signs are just manifestations of her illness. SPOILER ALERT As such, the fact that Debbie squanders her opportunity to escape and presumably meets a brutal end is tragic rather than infuriating. One can even see Shedim's conclusion as an allegory for how dangerous it can be to try and tackle a mental crisis alone rather than seek outside help. Spoilers Over The movie is also effectively suspenseful thanks to the ever-present creature. Watching it lurk in the darkness just out of Debbie's sight, you'll be anxiously awaiting the inevitable moment when the demon finally strikes. Adam Cabrera is plenty creepy as the shedim and Nicoletta Hanssen gives a quietly empathetic performance as the anguished Debbie. While the synopsis may make it sound dull and predictable, Shedim has quite a bit to offer beneath its surface that many a horror fan is sure to appreciate.

Score: 8 out of 10 composition notebooks.

Sky Fighter:

We switch from horror to sci-fi again with Sky Fighter. In the 26th century, intergalactic pilots John and Mo (Tom Maden and Jess Gabor) are locked in battle with a hostile alien species. But with John's memories corrupted by an attack, he's left to wonder if there's something more sinister going on. Much like She Must Vanish, the details of Sky Fighter's universe aren't given any concrete explanation. Instead, the viewer is left to piece it all together on their own. Where the films differ is that, with Sky Fighter, this process succeeds in its intention to build intrigue and keep the viewer as confused as the amnesiac John.

Sky Fighter also tells a more engaging story than its ALTER-distributed counterpart. As the film goes on, you'll become more and more uncertain about what to believe and who to trust. With the movie bouncing you from one possible explanation to another, the final realization is sure to hit you as hard as it does John. Tom Maden and Jess Gabor play well off each other and give strong individual performances. Gabor especially works well with her character's ambiguous nature, making it easy to join John in alternating between trusting her and doubting her. The only downside to Sky Fighter is that it shifts into dark comedy in the very last moment before the credits roll. For this kind of story, an out-of-nowhere comedic ending just feels too out of place. But other than that, Sky Fighter is a great sci-fi drama that runs as smoothly as a well-maintained spacecraft.

Score: 8 out of 10 missile locks.

Shakey Grounds:

Max (Jonny Danks) is a self-proclaimed coffee connoisseur on a cross-country mission to visit every unique coffee shop the United States has to offer. His journey has led him to Hollywood's Shakey Grounds, where he hits it off with the shop's quirky customers and fights for the affection of Angela (Lindsay Taylor), a beautiful barista and fellow coffee lover. An oddball comedy with a small array of bizarre characters, Shakey Grounds is a charming feature once it finds its groove. While the plot stretches itself thin with a 26-minute runtime, the endearing characters and understatedly ridiculous premise keep it from turning sour. When the film came to its "To Be Continued" ending, one of my first thoughts was that, in the right hands, Shakey Grounds could be adapted into a fun TV series.

Max is a likable and funny protagonist while his romantic rival Lucius is a hilariously arrogant douchebag. Jonny Danks and Nick Ballard give good performances as their respective characters, with Lindsay Taylor completing the love triangle trio as the bubbly Angela. While Taylor's acting is fine, Angela is definitely the blandest character in the movie. Her schtick of being little more than a prize for Max to win is one-note and doesn't even get used to much comedic effect. Of the rest of the Shakey Grounds crew, eccentric nerd Twitch and affable New Yorker Frankie are the most memorable. Goth barista Trixie and the kooky Colonel serve as runners-up, leaving perpetually angry-faced Simon to join Angela at the bottom of the coffee pot. While there are stiff deliveries to be heard from everyone in the supporting cast, the actors still come together and do a good job bringing their wonderfully weird characters to life. While it may have some artificial padding, Shakey Grounds still makes for a good laidback comedy best enjoyed over a fresh cup of java.

Score: 7 out of 10 coconut shavings.

Spen/cer:

Having just been rejected after confessing his feelings for his best friend Jake (Greg Feiner), college student Spencer (Lucas Mogerley) is down in the dumps. But with encouragement from his friends, Spencer agrees to attend a party his friends are holding--one which dreamy new student Paul (Trevor Stines) is attending. But with Spen and Cer (Declan Meagher and Lance Frantzich), the imaginary manifestations of Spencer's subconscious, tagging along, will the night end with more heartbreak for Spencer? If it weren't for Spen and Cer, this movie would be an average YA romantic dramedy. The antics of Spencer's imaginary friends give Spen/cer a touch of originality and their escalating squabbling is relatively entertaining.

It's when you get into the primary plotline that Spen/cer really starts stumbling. Spencer and Paul's story is one that's been told in countless other coming-of-age films, condensed to the point where any potential charm gets wrung out of it. The most frustrating element of the narrative is SPOILER ALERT how the reveal that Jake and Jennifer (Spencer's other friend) enlisted Paul to hook up with Spencer plays out. Their intentions may have been good and Spencer's reaction to finding out about the scheme is admittedly a little too harsh. But it doesn't change how needlessly deceitful the plan is and how wrong it is to label Spencer a jerk for getting upset about being lied to. On the plus side, the film ends without a reconciliation between Spencer and Paul. After how dismissive Paul was about Spencer's justifiably hurt feelings, it would've been completely unearned. Spoilers Over

The acting is nothing to write home about either. Declan Meagher and Lance Frantzich seem to be having the most fun as Spencer's wacky imaginary friends. But even they aren't immune to the stiltedness that plagues everyone in the cast, right down to the bit players. So apart from its unique premise and formula-deviating ending, Spen/cer falls short of being as funny or heartwarming as it could've been.

Score: 4 out of 10 salsa spills.

Sunlit Nights:

Looking for an escape from her strife, Moa (Frida Stavnes) finds herself drinking alone at a karaoke bar. But when Mia (Mimmi Tamba) arrives to join her friends for a night out, will a spark form between these two troubled women? Clocking in at around 8 minutes, Sunlit Nights is a very simple tale of two anguish-riddled women finding solace over karaoke. The film basically plays out like a romcom that ends right after the leads have their Meet Cute moment. Still, in that small window, Sunlit Nights manages to cultivate an authentic atmosphere and semi-charming story.

From the small talk to the laughably bad singing, the movie truly transports you into the karaoke bar. Mia and Moa's backstories are left vague enough to let your imagination take over, but not so much that you can't get a general sense of what's bothering them. Frida Stavnes brings a quiet sorrow to Moa's silent stewing at the bar while Mimmi Tamba is endearing as the more outgoing Mia. While their characters' limited interactions restrict how much chemistry they can develop, Stavnes and Tamba work well together to sell Moa and Mia's fast bond. It may not be the best Norwegian romance Omeleto has in their catalog, but it's still worth giving Sunlit Nights a chance to brighten your mood.

Score: 6.5 out of 10 Journey songs.

Summer Fridays:

The second-to-last film on this list is set during the season pictured below the list's title. But ice cream cones and trips to the beach are the last things on Frankie's (Chloe Berk) mind. Recently diagnosed with HPV and having just gotten her latest cervical cancer screening, Frankie tries to go about her day and attends her friend's birthday party. But getting her mind off her health woes won't be that easy. While it opens with Frankie in the midst of her cervical biopsy, Summer Fridays isn't likely to turn anyone's stomach. Instead of going down a vulgar route, the movie is a slice-of-life narrative that follows Frankie from one cringey encounter to another. From her friend Laura to partygoer Peter to her ex-boyfriend Caleb, every interaction Frankie has is either awkward right off the bat or is quick to snowball into that territory.

You'd think this kind of repetitive plotting would grow boring, but Summer Fridays has a strong leading lady to keep things fresh. Chloe Berk (who also wrote and co-directed Summer Fridays) effortlessly takes on Frankie's snarky but lovable personality. You'll immediately like and sympathize with Frankie as she struggles to take her mind off her medical crisis, especially if you're someone who can relate to such a stressful ordeal. As for Berk's noteworthy co-stars, Mike Ivers and Ryan Willard make memorable impressions as Peter and Caleb respectively. Ivers plays Peter as such an awkwardly charming guy and shares such natural chemistry with Berk that you'll be wishing their encounter didn't end so quickly. Willard also has chemistry with Berk and portrays Caleb in much the same way Ivers portrays Peter. But unlike Peter, Caleb has a bit of a douchey side that comes out once Frankie tells him about her diagnosis--one which Willard does a good job depicting. With its steady pace, stellar cast, and compelling story, Summer Fridays will have you invested from beginning to bittersweet end.

Score: 7.5 out of 10 yellow balloons.

Shackled:

Lastly, we have an atmospheric UK drama with a somberly ambiguous story. Malu (Emilia Clarke) is a woman being held prisoner by a circus. One night, her husband Jesse (Hadley Fraser) arrives and frees Malu from her chains, having hatched an escape plan. But as Malu will soon learn, not everything is as it seems. While not as macabre as the film that kicked off this list, Shackled is nevertheless dark, figuratively and literally. The dim lighting and cinematography blend to create a thoroughly dour mood--befitting a movie about a woman desperately trying to escape captivity.

As great as Shackled is at creating atmosphere, its pacing isn't nearly as fluid. Half of the film's meager runtime is spent watching Malu silently explore, with a few alarming occurrences rattling her along the way. It's not as dull as She Must Vanish and there are enough clues dropped that any viewer with a healthy imagination is sure to piece together some idea of what's happened/happening to Malu and Jesse. But the vague storytelling, uneven pace, and abrupt ending are sure to not be everyone's cup of tea. Emilia Clarke does great work selling Malu's fear and Hadley Fraser shares charming chemistry with his co-star during Jesse's sole scene with Malu. Between their efforts and those of the director and cinematographer, Shackled is able to break free from its sporadic plot progression and avoid getting dragged to the bottom of the rating scale by it.

Score: 6 out of 10 shattered lanterns.

Overall:

Admittedly, this list doesn't get off to the best start with She Must Vanish, a subpar horror short that only avoids being the lowest ranked movie on the list thanks to the bland and mediocrely acted Spen/cer. Thankfully, the remaining seven movies range from solid to great. Shine, Shedim, and Sky Fighter all tie for highest ranking film with their back-to-back 8-out-of-10 scores, with Shakey Grounds and Summer Fridays nipping at their heels with scores in the 7 range. So if you're looking for some good end-of-summer entertainment, grab an ice-cold beverage and give some of these short films a watch!

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About the Creator

Trevor Wells

Aspiring writer and film lover: Lifetime, Hallmark, indie, and anything else that strikes my interest. He/him.

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Comments (6)

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  • Dawn Salois2 years ago

    Nice, thorough reviews of each short film. I would feel fully prepared making the decision to watch any of these.

  • Once again a well written batch of reviews. Your work is clean and professional. Excellent job. From this list I want to watch Shine and Shakey Grounds.

  • Mariann Carroll2 years ago

    Nice , Love the short animal film. I might a few of the movies they all sound good to watch from your review. 🌹

  • That is wonderful and of course lots of great scores

  • Babs Iverson2 years ago

    Trevor, regarding your Shakey Grounds ending comment, it might be headed towards a TV series.Fantastic S movie reviews!!!💖💕

  • Clyde E. Dawkins2 years ago

    Amazing collection of reviews!

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