If the purpose of art is to disorient, this short film succeeds at it most brilliantly. With its disparate images which still somehow find a common link weaving them together, all thanks to its skilful narrative, Under Covers involves the viewer right from its very first opening visual. The film offers a heady cocktail of childish images and mature content that would leave the viewer baffled about what to make of the film, but in the most wonderful ways. From controversial to violent to simply disturbing - the images roll one after the other, invoking sexuality, religion, violence and the fear of the supernatural. On a night of a lunar eclipse, all that it simply does is delve into the lives and secrets of the inhabitants of a small town. As the surreal, dreamy transitions follow in quick successions, would you have the stomach for what it has in store for you?

Under Covers | Short Film of the Day

Whether or not the film intended it, it manages to convey more than a single story through its layered narrative. A nurse, played by Gemma Whelan of the Game of Thrones fame, finds herself making her way into an eerie house which is in a state of complete abandon. The only other inhabitant of it is her patient, a bed-ridden, elderly woman. The film builds itself slowly, maintaining a pace which strikes the right balance between revealing and concealing adequate amounts of the plot. As the nurse gets to taking care of chores and looking after her patient, she stumbles across a door which wasn't previously visible on the wall. Just when she is about to succeed at opening it, indistinct noises from inside forces her to not only shut it tightly, but block its path completely to ensure it never manages to open itself. Of course this isn't the end of the road for our protagonist, instead only the beginning. The door begins to follow her around the house. However, her most difficult obstacle is perhaps something else, as suggested by the haunting, most jarring climax and the conclusion of the film. Additionally, the image of the door struggling to open itself, but constantly being pushed back by the protagonist in her fear of the unknown, becomes a notable message about one's internal struggles to shut out what is unknown to them, even if it potentially holds the key to their escape from a far more horrifying situation.

The Blue Door | Gemma Whelan | Short Film of the Day

Not for the haters of jump-scares, but oh, what a ride is ‘Paranormal Investigators’! While horror-comedy might not be the easiest genre to deal with, efficiently employing the characteristics of the two categories to both amuse and horrify, Markus Meedt makes it look like a walk in the park. The film employs elements from both, ensuring each punch lands as intended. 

It is Abi’s first day at BPIT or the British Paranormal Investigation Team, when things soon begin to devolve into absolute chaos. What may have begun with a brief collision with hostile colleagues, soon takes the form of a haunting that is sure to stay with the entire BPIT team for a long, long time. 

Pushed in a corner in the face of an invincible adversary, both metaphorically and quite literally, the characters have little to turn to for help, when something unexpected happens. The narrative’s path to this eventual point of release is an entertaining, engrossing one. The characters are endearing and amusing, and in the process, ensure that you end up going all the way with them on this frightening, exciting journey.

Paranormal Investigators | Short Film of the Month

'Unveiled' is an exploration of a strange occurrence that is about to throw the protagonist’s reality into complete chaos. A woman prepares for bed before calling it a night when she begins to sense an unnatural presence in the bathroom with her. 

The film is more about the establishment of a world within the confines of a fixed physical space, rather than the cause and effect or the before-and-after of the said circumstance. 

To this, it brings absolute devotion and attention to detail. The brief narrative is tightly structured, utilizing every beat to its advantage. This could perhaps serve as the first part of a longer story. It would be a welcome prospect to go deeper into the world of the protagonist as well as the realm of horror she is about to be confronted with.

Unveiled | Short Film of the Day

Humour and horror are two components of storytelling as disparate and distinct as oil and water if handled without finesse. And yet, if put together with attention to detail and the manner of treatment, they can lead to a sufficiently fulfilling story. The film is one such example, more effortless and satisfying in its final product than simple, sufficient fulfilment. The narrative is tight and crisp, without wasting a single moment and hitting the nail on the head right away. The pace, as a result, comes across as organic as well as engaging. The story is of one night when a woman is heading out for dinner with her parents and partner. If the viewer has been left wondering so far by the title of the film, their curiosity is about to be dispelled at this little get-together. The visuals employ a skilful use of close-ups with a complementary background score to bring to life on screen a fairly disconcerting story. Despite the assurance you may have given yourself so far, owing to the setting and the general ambience, that nothing truly disturbing is going to happen, the unease that something terrible lurks just around the corner, never leaves you alone. It is in this constant undercurrent of tension and stress that the success of Brought to You by Satan lies.

Brought to You by Satan | Short Film of the Day

The world of The Paranormal Communicator is most fun and entertaining. Despite the potentially gruesome aspects that constitute it, namely, murder, violence and a haunting, it remains a realm you find yourself heading deeper and deeper into. The characters are endearing, and sure to stay with you after you are done watching the film. 

Michael (Michael Benjamin), a medium for spirits, visits Veronica to help her in the aftermath of her brother’s demise. After an awkward introduction, the former more awkward than the latter, the two lead the viewer by the hand into the heart of things. 

The humor which is invoked in the process, remains smooth and effortless. The plot, that is based on characters made famous by Benjamin on TikTok, is engaging throughout. Consequently, the film presents to you a story which does not seem to take itself too seriously, and yet ensures that all the punches land. The endeavor is sincere and devoted, and leaves one with a lovely union of horror and comedy at the end of it all.

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