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…
Say Hi After You Die (Sundance Film Festival)
Are you ready for the most unexpected, short-form tale of grief that you will find? Kate Hollowell shows off her quadruple threat with her writing, direction, acting, and dancing in Say Hi After You Die. Boasting some of the most organic dialogue between women you’ll come across in a film, Hollowell sets the stage for this hilarious and tragic tale. This wild comedy has a healthy mix of laughs, dance, music, and abstract symbolism to convey its central themes of loss. Itis strange, but it tackles significant themes in an oddly accessible way. Say Hi After You Die accomplishes an impressive feat — it delivers some poignant emotion while not sacrificing its laughs. Keep an eye out for Hollowell and what she creates next.
Dream Creep (Sundance Film Festival)
Are you afraid of household kitchen items? Well… Dream Creep makes you terrified of one of them for sure! Writer/director Carlos A.F. Lopez crafts a horrifying little flick stripped down to just its strange concept. Sleep can be scary for so many, but what if you hear a voice from inside your partner’s ear? That is where Lopez takes the audience and his central character, and it is quite a terrible place. Body horror and blood come in with plenty of flair to put you on the edge of your seat. One specific moment is one of the most tremble-inducing moments you might see in horror. The retro synthesizer score invokes John Carpenter quite well. Meanwhile, the crown jewel of this little film just might be the vocal performance and unhinged physicality of Sidney Jayne Hunt. There might not be a ton of depth to this story, but it will certainly make you feel plenty of ways.
The Rainbow Bridge (Sundance Film Festival)
Have you had a pet that was with you for a long period of time? Was losing them heartbreaking? Would you do anything to speak to them before they moved on? The Rainbow Bridge is the zany and crazy short film that hits on those questions quite poignantly. Our protagonist is certainly relatable, as she wants to speak to her furry friend for real on their way out. What writer/director Dimitri Simakis delivers is a colorful and unhinged little flick with plenty of heart. The tone is set well inside a cultish clinic and their super campy, ‘80s infomercial. Then our protagonist and the audience are whisked away to a colorful land full of giant furry puppets and big thumping beats. This is such an idiosyncratic experience, but The Rainbow Bridge has a good heart at the center, with themes that so many pet owners can relate to. Strap in for this campy and colorful “feels” trip.
The Shell Covered Ox (Sundance Film Festival)
What is the most impressive thing a film can do? Make its audience understand a whole group of people, as well as connect deeply with another human being. Director Daniel Barosa has fun in this mission, as he crafts a strangely fantastical tale of missing youth and appearing oxen. In this post-COVID world with so many stresses for young people, from grief, to depression, to other complex feelings, The Shell Covered Ox puts its efforts into intimately following a young woman’s experience. She navigates complex relationships with her family and processes the loss of her missing sister. Both the film and protagonist find solace in music, as there is a beautifully arranged bit of score. This intimate and small-scale film mixes genres for the best results as it provides an impressive look into the existence of a group of people. Both relatable and strange, this is a film that so many people can connect deeply to, thanks in no small part to its humanistic themes.
Bug Diner (Sundance Film Festival)
Are you ready to be shocked in ways you probably haven’t in a while… or ever? Bug Diner is that kind of experience. The boldness to go to such unrestricted and brave new places exploring sexuality in animated form makes this film must-see. You might want to unsee some of the things on display in this felt diner world, but the themes are incredibly relatable and poignant. Hidden love, struggling marriages, sexual attractions to coworkers, and a healthy dose of kinks make it a wild and shocking memorable ride. This heightening tension will keep you glued to the screen for the film’s seven minutes, especially with the quite shocking and unexpected ending. It will also put you in some places you never wanted to imagine, but it does so in service of breaking down shame and taboos for important and natural feelings.
You can read more from Shane Conto, and follow him on Instagram, and Letterboxd