Duck Children (2001)

User Rating:

6.4/10   

Directors:

Bob Blundon
Sam Walker

Writers:

Bob Blundon (screenplay)
Tim Reeves (original idea)

Genre:

Short

Tagline:

What starts out as a seemingly innocent school play becomes a tale of horror, death and extermination ha ha ha hahahh hahhahahha da ahahhah hed lovdem sooo ha ha hah ah ah ha ha.

Plot:

In a school play a group of children dressed as ducks move perfectly together except one of them. The...

Plot Keywords:

Experimental Film

Awards:

2 wins

Cast

Emily Gostlin	...	Duck Girl
Rhianna Dyer	...	Duck Child
Craig Woods	...	Duck Child
Ruth Coleman	...	Duck Child
Guy Mosley	...	Duck Child
Oliver Gostlin	...	Duck Child
Mark O'Donovan	...	Duck Child
Robert Dyer	...	Duck Child
Emma Hopkins	...	Duck Child
Bethen Jennings	...	Angel
James Smurthwaite	...	Head
Clive Harry	...	Arm

Runtime:

8 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Company:

Arm and Eye Films

The meaning is good as a concept but the delivery is much better despite the budget

In a school play a group of children dressed as ducks move perfectly together except one of them. The play continues with the arrival of a duck girl bearing jam tarts and the alarming arrival of a man with a big paper-mache head bearing a shotgun.

This short was made for one months rent worth of money - £400! However it is well done despite some of the cost limitations showing through. The basic plot will automatically be associated with Columbine/Dunblane etc simply because of children and guns being involved. However Walker makes it clear this was not his intention. That's a shame because it leaves us with a story that isn't so clear.

Walker insists the film is a metaphor for following the rules, living within your limits and then dying. This is shown by the one duck who is out of step, not having crosses on his eyes. This allows him to do his own thing (as he isn't blinded), but then why is his fate the same as the others - in fact he seems more unhappy because he is left out.

That said it is a good short, even if the meaning is a little muddled if you live outside of the maker's head. The music is great and well used - to create an air of innocence that easily turns into building unease and menace. The ducks are great and the big-headed man is simple but very effective. The weak link was the duck girl who's presence I didn't understand.

Overall this is done cheaply and deserves praise for being watchable. The end is quite dark and disturbing and the meaning is not totally clear unless you watch an interview with the director first (as I did) and even then it's iffy. However the mood is well judged and effectively moves from comical ducks to discomfort and sheer horror. The director said he wanted to shake people awake - he succeeded.