Directed by Preston Corbell
Sometimes it’s fun just watching the evolution of a madman, rather than the carnage he causes, and in the 6-minute short The Rumpelstiltskin Killer from director Preston Corbell (who also stars in the lead role), we’re brought to the front door of lunacy as a tragic accident constructs the origin of a lunatic.
Jonah Stilinski, a high school English teacher, is injured in an automobile accident and escapes serious physical harm, but the mental side effects have been debilitating, landing him in a mental institution thinking the docs have stolen his face (how cheery).
The film is interwoven with pseudo news clippings of his plight and eventual downfall into complete mental abandonment and his eventual escape. He’s got a very sharp knife and a fondness for filleting some skin.
This is a short that simply acts as a lead in and, if the funding were to ever become available, would serve as a nice addition to the slasher genre’s already jam-packed roster. It’s quick, it’s low budget, and it’s not damn bad at all. Definitely worth a watch if you’ve got a few minutes to spare.