by Shane Conto, Staff Writer
Welcome to The Short List! Each month, I treat you to a collection of short films. Hopefully this list will inspire you to check out some of these gems…
Devotee (Festival)
How uncomfortable are the devotions of so many people in this highly charged and combustible existence we all live in? Religious and political fervor have become so troublesome, and people will go to great lengths to endlessly support their deities… no matter the cost. This fervor is captured perfectly in Devotee, the new horror short from director Richard J. Bosner. This tale has a strong retro feel, from the title font to the rich cinematography that feels ripped from the ‘80s. The Satanic Panic of that era adds to the unnerving content of this film. A young boy wakes late at night to discover just how devoted his mother is to her deity. Ben Bladon is shown fleetingly, but his presence as a cult leader is striking and memorable. Grant Feely gives a strong performance for such a young performer. But it is Mackenzie Firgens who steals the show as Feely’s unhinged mother, carrying the audience to a haunting and shocking finale.
Is Now a Good Time? (YouTube)
Can we possibly be ready for the latest project from writer/director/actor Jim Cummings? This man makes some of the most uncomfortable and wild movies in recent memory. His ability to find that right chord in people, and pull it and twist it in all the wrong ways, is his beautiful power as a filmmaker. Is Now a Good Time? is his latest outing, and boy, does he have some uncomfortable twists up his sleeve (or maybe a certain opening in his body that unexpectedly gets some attention). This short takes shots at the overly secretive and powerful world of corporate filmmaking. Cummings plays an employee of Disney/Marvel who is responsible for showing dying people upcoming movies on their deathbed. Let’s just say a showing of Captain America 4 does not go as planned. Cummings is committed to so many gags in this 12-minute film, and he really shines with his awkwardness and his commitment to his craft. There are plenty of thematic layers for such a small film, and it will get you nervous laughing in no time, as only Cummings can accomplish.
I Am a Robot (YouTube)
Writer/director Sean Buckelew certainly gets us in the robo-phobe community, doesn’t he? Buckelew’s latest animated short film is an anthology that captures the internal thoughts and monologues of three everyday machines with artificial intelligence. You get a Roomba with a foot fetish… yikes. A self-driving car fed up with the human obsession with our phones. Then you get a supercomputer which is ready to take us all out. Each little segment has its own sense of humor and delivers on some interesting and engaging ideas when it comes to the relationships between humans and AI. After watching this, you will certainly be able to answer the question of what robots think of… humans… their feet… and killing! The animation itself has a nice, sleek feel to it and fits nicely with the mechanical protagonists of the store. In just under seven minutes, you get some good laughs, clever scenarios, and a lot to think about.
Safe (YouTube)
Why doesn’t Will Patton get more work today? Time and time again, Patton has proven himself to be a strong character actor who adds layers to any project. Safe, then, is a short form drama with Patton portraying a manager of a now-defunct casino who must come to grips with his past failures. His wintery evening is changed when his son shows up after getting into some trouble. In its short runtime, Safe explores a man’s personal and professional regrets and failings. Patton brings so much to a rare starring role, and it helps elevate some familiar elements in this short. The wintery New Jersey setting is quite the mood — it captures the coldness all around this tale. Strong drama and performances anchor down this film which has some narrative surprises up its sleeves.
Visible Mending(Vimeo)
Do you enjoy doing crafts? Many people find passion, enjoyment, and solace in the world of creation. Picking up needles to knit or crochet something into existence can be therapeutic in so many ways. That is the beauty at the heart of Visible Mending, a stop motion animated short documentary that shows creators knitting and crocheting to the musings of people expressing the meaning of their process. This is a deeply poignant and personal experience for those narrating their experiences, and it hits in such a good place. The work shown off is incredible, with some of the cutest little bears and fish and such. The stories are human in a universal way, and they connect on an emotional level. If you have a connection with these crafting arts or ever considered them, this is a wonderful and moving experience in a small, package-sized runtime.
You can read more from Shane Conto, and follow him on Instagram and Letterboxd