Short film review: FIRST DATE (2012) Directed by Blair Richardson

There's so many great short films being made from some fabulous young talent, and it's still amazing when you discover more. Writer/director Blair Richardson recently invited me to view her two horror shorts; the second, Kitty Kitty, was funded via Indiegogo, and you can find the reviewed here.
First Date is a simple, ultra-short (3 minutes) which presents a familiar situation for all of us... the preparation for a first date. Shot from a low angle, we see a woman (Ashton Nicole), fresh from the shower, getting dressed and ready for her big night.
Incredibly sexy and provocatively filmed, with lingering shots of various parts of the lovely lady's body (there is nudity, but nothing explicit and it's handled sensually rather than exploitative), and set to a sultry if off-kilter song (Kill, Kill by Elizabeth Grant - you may know her better as Lana Del Rey), the woman looks through the window to see her date pull up in his car.
Popping a mint to ensure fresh breath, the man (Jason Roy Jones) exudes confidence, and can't resist a wry smile to himself at what will probably be another sexual conquest. As he waits at the door, the woman glides seductively down the stairs to greet him - still only clad in lingerie. It's clear what is going to occur - or is it?

Everything about this short film works. As mentioned, the music, camerawork, and suggestive and sexy shot selection all provide the right amount of build-up for the dénouement. It also keeps you guessing as to what the inevitable twist will be. Is the woman transgender? Will the man turn out to be a serial killer? The real twist is fun, and very satisfying - and did bring to mind a classic Monty Python sketch, which certainly raised a smile - although that may not have been the intention.
First Date is a cracking short, worthy of anyone's time - and you can check it out in full below. Hope you all enjoy it as much as I did. Now go and read my review of Blair's next short, Kitty Kitty.
9 out of 10

Short film review: KITTY KITTY (2013) Directed by Blair Richardson

Coming after the rather fabulous First Date, writer/director Blair Richardson proves she didn't just have a fluke with this slightly longer (15 minute) tale in which a couple's relationship problems are exacerbated by a creepy cat.
Vanessa (Madison Rae Stewart) isn't too impressed with her artist boyfriend Mark (Landon Cole). She goes to work all the time while he sits at home, hoping his paintings will sell. She's also feeling rather unwell - and since we have already seen her in a compromising position with another man, we can assume what that might be. When she arrives home she's annoyed to find Mark has taken in a stray cat. She insists it goes, but the next day it turns up again. There's certainly something amiss with this rogue feline.

Full disclosure here - I'm not a fan of cats; I'm incredibly allergic so I already have a natural fear of them. That said, the cat here isn't as evil as some - well, certainly not when we see it in cat form at least. Using as much of a slow-burn build up as possible in a short, Richardson manages to create a sense of something not right while allowing us to get to know something about the characters. With some great fake scares (with a Psycho homage and some interesting shadow-play) which don't come across as lame as they do in many films that 'try' too hard. It could have worked even just as a relationship drama, the 'horror' ending is just the icing on the cake for us gore-hounds.
Which brings us to the effects. The film was funded on Indiegogo with a final fund of just under $3.500 - so it's amazing that Richardson managed to make a film incorporating such great practical effects for the budget. She must have a very understanding and talented crew as well as a very persuasive personality! The creature could have done with not being as brightly lit - sometimes less is more - but it's still a fantastic achievement and doesn't look at all tacky.

Kitty Kitty is worth catching should it find its way onto the festivals, keep an eye on the Facebook page for any news. I, for one, can't wait to see what Blair Richardson comes up with next, this lady has a bright future ahead!
8 out of 10

Short film review: PICKET (2014, directed by Izzy Lee)

With the recent passing of gay-bothering 'pastor' Fred Phelps recently, it's timely that this short should find it's way to me. Phelps, of course was the founder of a 'church' which advocated his 'followers' standing outside funerals waving ant-gay and other offensive placards. Free speech does indeed seem to bring the moron out of some people.

In Picket, we have one such person (Diana Porter) whom we see painting her vile messages on a collection of boards ready to protest.On the radio, a preacher is spouting some thinly veiled hatred of things, as they do. The woman making the signs is arranging a meeting over the phone. A suitcase containing several bundles of cash is open in front of her. She's talking about picking up a package from a political lobbyist, which would help her group, "get their point across"; "people should realise that they could go to hell".

Early next day, she arrives to a seemingly deserted building. She takes a look around while waiting for the lobbyist (Christian Masters). A child's doll, which looks like it could have been there some time, is lying creepily abandoned on the floor. Except there's something in the shadows...
Written and directed by Izzy Lee, whose debut short Legitimate (2013) did really well at several US festivals, this is an effectively shocking short (clocking in at under 5 minutes) which works wonderfully. The sinister looking building where the woman is to meet the senator is a prime example of perfect location. The lighting, eerie music and makeup effects are pretty damn good for a low budget horror short too.

Lee manages to create the right amount of tension and anxiety from the moment we enter the building. Bryan McKay, who handled the visuals/editing, does a great job of giving the film a very cinematic look. With such a short running time, you have to get to the action/shocks and it's to Lee's credit that she holds back as long as she can to increase the fear, before unleashing a rightful retribution to someone who has been using a so-called God to spread what actually amounts to personal hate. Is what's in the shadows sent from the Divine to pass judgement (a gospel song begins playing as the tension builds), or is it his opposite; unhappy that so many 'sinners' are sent his way? By the time the lobbyist arrives, there's no sign of her and whatever dirty, underhand dealings that were going to take place are replaced by something more nasty. Only seen fleetingly, perhaps wisely as the best scares often come from what we don't see, is Sarah Paterson whose demonic image will be burned into the viewer's nightmares for a while.

It's amazing that there are so many talented people coming up with some fantastic short horror films lately. If even only half of these manage to catch a big break, the future of the genre will be in safe hands. I suspect Izzy Lee may well be one of those. 
With any luck, Picket will make its way online or the festival circuit soon, so seek it out if you can.

8 out of 10