Heir (2015)
Matt Molgaard
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Starring Robert Nolan, Bill Oberst, Jr., Mateo D’Avino
Directed by Richard Powell
Richard Powell’s short film Heir distances itself from your typical short film. Generally, shorts provide a quick punch to the face, leaving viewers reeling and craving more. The reason being, shorts rarely ever cover a wide story scope. In a sense, most could be considered a wild ride through just a few truncated scenes. They’re a bit like teasers in that sense. So when a short comes along and tells an expansive tale in just a few brief minutes, we pay very close attention.
Heir is that rarity that defies all odds. This isn’t a single scene stretched for shocks; this is a comprehensive story – condensed, yes – but a full story all the same. To call it a disconcerting story may actually be an extreme understatement.
Gordon splits parental duties (this isn’t a clearly illustrated plot point, but the indication is there) with his estranged wife. His son, Paul, carries the emotional distress of a family torn apart, and he isn’t always excited to see his father, who’s been fighting to manage plenty of personal issues himself. But a meeting is arranged among Gordon, Paul, and Paul’s mother; it’s Gordon’s time for visitation. It’s a meeting that will alter the course of a strained father/son relationship to an unimaginable degree.
Father and son head to a local diner where they meet with Denis, Gordon’s longtime acquaintance. Denis rings as a strange individual immediately. He’s socially awkward, edgy, and all but screams pedophile. But the truth is Denis isn’t just a strange character, he’s got a sinister secret, and he plans to introduce his true self to Paul. Moments later the boy is drugged, left unconscious. Gordon, for one reason or another, allows his son to remain in harm’s way. And harm does indeed befall the boy, as we quickly learn of Denis’ true motives and Denis’ true nature, which isn’t exactly of the human variety.
The tension in the picture (which looks fantastic, for the record) is palpable. The twist is absolutely brilliant, guaranteed to send shockwaves through the viewer. And the onscreen performances are haunting. Bill Oberst, Jr., turns in one stunning and unsettling performance, and Robert Nolan, who plays Gordon, is just as chilling, albeit for different reasons altogether.
Once the film’s three focal players share the frame, things escalate from eerie to nauseating and eventually downright paralyzing. While we won’t spill too many details of the story, you can bet that Heir will leave you juggling a myriad of emotions, with fear and disgust fronting the pack. If you’re a parent, you may opt to skip this one entirely. That said, if you’re a fanatic for original films that deliver shock and awe through every transition, you should seek this one out immediately. It’s heartbreaking and stomach-turning. It’s also one of the greatest short films to be released in 2015.
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Film
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