Looking at Shorts with The Vern

Hello everybody.

I have a few new short films that I’m going to review in this section.  I haven’t had much time to cover much, but I do urge you to check them out and find out for yourself if you like them or not.

 

Dawn – Directed by Rose McGowan

I have been a fan of Miss McGowan’s acting ever since I saw The Doom Generation back in 95. (Damn that was a long time ago)  I even did a tribute to her on one of my older sites which you can read about here.  Her work behind the camera is just as good as what she does in front of it.  Dawn stars Tara Lynne Barr(God Bless America) as the title character.  Shunned by her parents and ignored by her peers.  This shy young girl start to get feelings for a young boy named Charlie (ReileyMcClendon) after they exchanged glances at the gas station.  He invites her to go out with his friends to see a movie but along the way there is a slight detour.  I don’t want to reveal anything else that happens, because  I don’t like reading reviews that give away the whole plot.  Set in the early sixties. Rose Mcgowan paints a great picture of first loves and teenage girls wanting to blossom and be older then they are.  The title itself is a metaphor on the beginning of a new era.  We are seeing this character at the start of her next phase in life.  It also says something about how we are willing  to go through something we don’t want to.  Only because we don’t want to upset the person we are with.  I would have liked a little bit more from the ending then what was presented.  I wanted to see them go back to their tranquil and happy lives after what took place near the end.  Still this was a very well done first feature from Miss McGowan and I’m excited to see what she has next.

You can watch the film by clicking here

 

The Runaround Club Directed by Matthew Rindini

In this feature. Two thieves (Ariel Zuckerman and Jack Lynch) break into a home where they discover a domestic dispute taking place.   They must choose to continue the job or do the right thing.  All the actors were good in this including John Depew as the controlling father.  But I was most impressed with Asta Paredes as the younger sister in this.  I know her mainly from her role in Return to Nuke em High Vols 1(click to read review) & 2 but did not recognize her at all in this.   Most of the times when older people play younger parts it’s kind of jarring because you can see an obvious difference.  But with this I really bought that she was just 15 or 16 years old.  I would have liked a little more explanation of the family and why the dad was abusive.  I’m also confused on the outcome of certain characters at the end.   Showing the end first and have it flash back to the beginning of the break in was a story device I felt it didn’t need.  When people use that element it should be used to do one of two things. Reveal something that was always present but we just never saw until close to the end. Show the same events but from a different character’s perspective.  I never really got that with this and thought just seeing the two thieves plan this heist who then discover the truth about this family,would be sufficient enough. Director Matthew Rindini knows how to create a good amount of tension and if this story was expanded upon slightly, it would be excellent.

To watch the film, click here

 

The Clone Theory  – Directed by A.P. Stevens

I love a good sci-fi story that tells me about the dangers of technology and how we are suffering from over using it.  The themes and thoughts that are brought up in this short are good and it could have lead to a very interesting story if it was expanded a little more.  Instead of being a complete story.  This felt almost like a teaser for a feature film.  A very good one I should say, but a trailer never the less.

You can watch it by clicking here

 

Bitch Better Have My Money – Directed by Megaforce and Rihanna

Sometimes a music video can change my opinion of a song.  I was not a huge fan of this song when I first heard it and I usually like a few from this artist.(Her video for  We found Love has elements of Sid and Nancy and Requiem for a Dream)  However,I really dug this video that shows singer Rihanna and friends kidnapping and torturing a rich socialite. It had elements of Oldboy and I really dug the  ending of this one.  Costarring Mads Mikkelsen (Hannibal) and Eric Roberts  It’s one  twisted music video that felt more like a short film and I hope more artists do this type of work.

Watch the film by clicking here

 

Well that’s it for now.  I will be back later with my Oscar nomination picks and new review