The Backwater Gospel (2011)

Backwater is doomed by the regular visits of the undertaker and its dwellers blame a tramp.

Director:

Bo Mathorne

Stars:

Lucien Dodge, Laura Post, Phillip Sacramento

Cast

Credited cast:
Lucien Dodge	...	The Minister
Laura Post	...	Towns People
Phillip Sacramento	...	Bubba
Zebulon Whatley	...	The Tramp

Storyline

Backwater is doomed by the regular visits of the undertaker. The town priest and the faithful think that a merry non-religious tramp brings the death that follows living in an improvised shed in the middle of the town. It looks like when he sings the undertaker visits. But is he the one to blame for their misfortune?

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Plot Keywords:

town | priest | death | guitar man | merry undertaker | 

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Genres:

Animation | Short | Horror | Western

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Details

Country:

Denmark

Language:

English

Release Date:

23 September 2011 (USA)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Animation Workshop

Technical Specs

Runtime:

9 min

Color:

Color

Did You Know?

Quotes

[first lines]
The Tramp: [singing] The shadow of the undertaker creeps across your floor. Go lock up all your children and paint blood upon your door.

User Reviews

Absolutely Brilliant

The style of animation used here is very effective and has a gritty, rough quality. I must say that overall, I am really impressed. With a running time of nine minutes, there is quite a bit being set up and established. The story sucks viewers in, and the set up is eerie. The undertaker, or death, visits a small town and sparks a mass panic that spirals into a dark commentary on religion and other ways that people attempt to explain or escape death. From the beginning all the way through to the end, the short had me hooked. The characters experience a lot both physically and spiritually, which is difficult to achieve in a full length feature not to mention nine minutes. The grim ending, in particular, is creepy and unsettling. Having viewed many films, I haven't felt this unnerved since watching the 2008 vampire film "Let the Right One In." This is smart, entertaining, gripping, and also horrific. Don't hesitate to check this one out for yourself.