SiftPop

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…

The Wonderful World of Mickey Mouse: Steamboat Silly (Disney+) 

Are you ready for a fresh (and classic) dive into the world of Mickey Mouse? Disney+ delivers another new short in their series, The Wonderful World of Mickey Mouse. This meta comedy romp Steamboat Silly is a blast. The action is exciting, especially as the scale gets bigger, and the number of Mickeys does too. There are so many wonderful and beloved Mickey Mouse references that all the fans of the House of Mouse will eat it up. This is a clever and fun story with plenty of silly physical comedy. 

Survivers (YouTube) 

What do you get when you have a dash of neon lighting, science fiction, and Spanish? You get Carlos Gómez-Trigo’s Survivers. This is a self-contained and intense little film. We have three people stuck in a car in elaborate hazmat suits. The cinematography has intriguing lighting and a dark ominous atmosphere. The tension is high, and the concept is simple. There are shocking occurrences and buckets of blood. This is a wonderful post-apocalyptic tale wrapped in a tight little package. If you need a little film to put you on edge in under 10 minutes, which will also hit your emotions, this one is a perfect fit.

The TOBOS (YouTube)

What was your favorite show to watch as a young child? What if that cue and campy little animated show from the ’80s or early ‘90s was injected with plenty of deep and existential themes? Director Tobias Rud certainly had plenty of fun making that reality come to life. It is fascinating how The TOBOS feels so accurate to a specific time in the world of children’s programming. The characters are simple, cute, and weird. The footage even feels like an old VHS tape. But it is the more mature themes and abstract visual metaphors that make this new short stand out so well. It might not all be clear initially, but this weird little flick has plenty to think about and things to feel. 

Horacio (YouTube) 

What if you took the twisted tale of Alex DeLarge and compacted it to 10 minutes? Director Caroline Cherrier takes influences of A Clockwork Orange,and the tale of a twisted and dangerous youth, and morphs it into Horacio.Horacio dies at the hands of Guillaume. This darkly funny and serene animated film looks at the consequences of such mindless violence. He was a young man placed in prison, and his life changes…and doesn’t. There are haunting elements of this film that will unnerve you and make you think about what humanity does in the face of people like Guillaume. But just you wait, as this film leads up to an unsettling finale. 

Myrna the Monster (YouTube)

Who is the most relatable movie character you can think of? I am sure it is not a grotesque alien puppet from outer space. that certainly is a unique answer, but Ian Samuels’ creation fits the bill. Myrna the Monster is a strange short about an alien trying to assimilate into our society. Myrna certainly sticks out as a slightly awkward and soft-spoken puppet just trying to make human connections and live her life. That is shockingly similar to probably most human beings as well. The vocal performance from Kathleen Hanna fits perfectly in this film, as we see Myrna try to navigate a strange new experience. A great mix of animated flashbacks and puppetry, this is a poignant little film worth your time.