From Robber Baron Productions, the team that brought us the highly acclaimed, award-winning short On Edge, comes a new six-minute horror short. Once again it stars Doug Bradley, he of Pinhead fame, who shot this in London just before jetting off to shoot - Lord help us - Hellraiser VII.
Bradley is a teacher, newcomer Kirsty Levett his miscreant pupil, caught running in the hallways and sentenced to detention: lines. `I want to see that pad half-full by the time I come back,' says Sir. `The sooner you start, the sooner you finish.' Which is sort of contradictory, but if you think about it is the sort of inconsistency that characterises creepy, control-freak teachers.
With such a short film, it wouldn't be fair to describe the story, so I'll just say that it's bleak, creepy, nasty and supernatural. Levett is very good in a role without dialogue, looking genuinely frightened. Bradley underplays his role to excellent effect. It's simple but original and tightly written and directed by Frazer Lee. Though shot on digital video - - the cinematography by Alan Stewart (Band of Brothers) is top notch and adds to the atmosphere.
While it doesn't hurt to have an actor as good and as well-known as Bradley in a film like this, this is much more than just a star vehicle. It's an excellent slice of British horror, well-crafted and genuinely unsettling.
Rating: A
