by Shane Conto, Staff Writer
Welcome to The Short List! Each month, I treat you to a collection of short films. Hopefully I can inspire you to check some of them out…
Meat Puppet (YouTube)
What would you do if you got possessed by a satanic hand puppet? That is a wild what-if… yet Meat Puppet explores that very scenario. Its writer/director Eros V is an English/Greek filmmaker who crafted a sincere, hilarious, and demented little flick. There is solid thematic work as the film navigates a soon-to-be grad who lacks maturity, letting his girlfriend down by spending all his time with his toys. But when one unexpected puppet arrives and possesses him, he must confront his choices and learn a hard lesson. The film balances some absurd comedy, as well as some gross body horror when the puppet fuses with our protagonist’s hand. The duo of David Jonsson (of Alien: Romulus) and Máiréad Tyers makes are charismatic and committed performers who sell this silly and gross flick with plenty of twisted charm.
Hold Me Close (Sundance)
Hold Me Close is a tender and beautiful film that is just a small piece of the life shared by two young, queer Black women, Corinne and Tiana. The directors, Aurora Brachman and Latajh Weaver, craft a rich visual experience that matches the richness of and authenticity of its central relationship. The shot choices, lighting, and scale craft such an intimate and voyeuristic experience that allows the audience to deeply connect to Corinne and Tiana. This short film is so impactful because it is an honest look at the beauty of relationships, as well as the challenges that present themselves. Relationships require effort, yet there will be roadblocks along the way — Hold Me Close paints the full picture that is beautiful and moving. Simple yet poignant. This is a special film that humanizes queer relationships.
Quiver (Marina Del Rey Film Festival)
Quiver is a twisted tale of brotherhood and the lengths we will go to rekindle what we lost. Made on a shoestring budget by filmmaker Dalton Burdette, Quiver is a haunting thriller with plenty of surprises up its sleeve. Dabbling in genre-mixing, this film has a poignant core of two estranged brothers brought together over tragedy. The hunting motifs work well, as does the isolated setting, to build a tense cinematic experience. There is some bold storytelling in this light flick, and it helps overcome some common traits of micro-budget films. Tyler Picchi gives a strong anchoring performance, and the film’s climax delivers a satisfying conclusion.
Beautiful Men (Vimeo)
Did you expect to see some puppet penis in an Academy Award nominated film this year? I bet you didn’t, but Beautiful Men certainly delivers that… and so much more. This animated short film has striking stop motion animation that delivers textured, detailed, and impressive puppetry which is organically brought to life. Nicolas Keppens directs this film with plenty of heart and empathy for the trio of balding brothers at the core. Three brothers traveling to get hair transplants might not be the most compelling story on the surface, but Keppens navigates great depth. The exploration of male insecurities is the foundation of this moving and tender film, and toxic masculinity is confronted with meaningful dynamics and connection.
Instruments of a Beating Heart (YouTube)
The Academy Award-nominated documentary short, Instruments of a Beating Heart, sheds some light on students’ experiences inside Japanese elementary schools. But most importantly, it gets us in the corner of a young girl trying her best to stand out in a concert performance of “Ode to Joy.” The film portrays the different approach to teaching in Japan, which brings a lot of emotions out of this young girl, and we feel for her so badly! We get invested in her journey, and it is quite a moving experience. But there are added layers, as the film (which is sharply shot) engagingly shows what it is like to be a student in this Japanese school environment.
You can read more from Shane Conto, and follow him on Instagram and Letterboxd