‘The Retreat’ beautifully beguiles the darkness within its layers with the humor and entertainment it presents at first glance. When David arrives at a remote house nestled deep in the hills, to spend time with his boyfriend, Anthony and his boss, he is immediately put at unease. 

The feeling of being watched, and observed a little too closely for comfort never leaves him. However, despite the obvious trampling of boundaries, and David’s clear discomfort, Anthony is quick to dismiss it as a figment of his imagination. When the truth is revealed, it is consistent with the film’s tonality maintained all along. And yet, it shocks the viewer as much as it shocks David. 

The final result becomes a bizarre, darkly humorous progression of events. The film remains entertaining throughout, with notable chemistry and performances. The storytelling and screenplay complement the comedic timing of its actors. It would be an exciting possibility to explore the premise, characters, and the world established in the short in the form of a longer project.

The Retreat | Short Film of the Day

A man wakes up in a strange place, completely unaware of how he got there to begin with. Little does he know that an even stranger reality awaits him, as he is greeted by three pallid faces, haunted by unmissable shadows under their eyes. 

The story develops to reveal how the four characters are entrapped in a realm defined by their worst nightmares. The only seeming route to success is engulfed by the most terrifying foe - each character’s worst fear. The narrative thus presents an endeavor to explore the potency of fear vis-a-vis the human mind, displaying investment of thought and attention at the level of writing and narratorial progression. 

When the characters try to outdo it, to eventually figure out an escape route, would they be successful? Made in under forty-eight hours, the film explores the question while engaging with the individual reality of each character with earnestness. It further employs a controlled physical space to present all of this to you, endeavoring to keep the viewer engaged all along.

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