I (Heart) a Serial Killer (Short)
Starring Laura Lewis, Brandon Battle
Directed by Michael Guerra
One can look to the future of horror and wish for the best, and with a budding crop of upcoming filmmakers at the ready, it looks as if the genre is poised to stand tall for many years to come, regardless of the industry’s sometimes denial of the overall product.
Film student Michael Guerra recently submitted his 9-minute short I (Heart) a Serial Killer to us here at Dread Central for review in the hopes that we’d give it a look and dissect it with both kindness and critique. Now, I’m no film expert by any fashion, but I’ve consumed enough horror over the course of my 42 years to at least grab a foothold on what potentially could sink or swim, and after checking out his presentation, I can surmise that he’s on the right track, but some elbow grease is needed to buff out the rough spots.
In this quickie, we’re introduced to a young girl who is spending her Halloween night in front of the TV watching some classic scare-shows, and it’s not long before she is the victim of an abduction.
From the short’s familiar opening strains of “Mr. Sandman,” we’re left to wonder exactly what we’ll be in store for, and the backstory of a bullied child who exhibits violent tendencies is a grim peek into what may be a dark future. The 9-minute film tussles with the notion that a damaged young soul could potentially turn into a distraught individual later on in life and the possibility that those maligned feelings might not only be contained to the predator, but could extend to the prey as well.
With all the looks of a film student’s presentation, it’s got its wrinkles and clunks from here to there, but it’s the implied course of action that makes this an interesting watch. Don’t read too heavily into the acting or effects, but stick to the meaning of what’s being shown to you, and this will come off as mildly entertaining. Worth a watch if you have the time.
-
Film
Categorized:Reviews
