I'm not a huge fan of horror movies, but the look into Jessie's psyche was compelling. Forced to face her worst fear, Jessie also confronts some of those who have had the most influence on her life. Each scene was so real it drew me in, making me feel some of The terror, heartbreak, self-recrimination, and confusion Jessie was feeling. Very well done.
8 Reviews
A Great Thriller/Suspense Short Film
jennyfoshia-5629522 April 2021
For a short film, this one manages to engage your senses; fear, anxiety, loneliness, sorrow, hopelessness, and manages to dig just deep enough to keep you wanting more.
This film follows Jessie as her mind (voices in her head) holds conversations with various people in her life to try to get Jessie to acknowledge what's happened to her.
You have scenes with her sister, her father, her best friend, and my favorite, Snappy, the clown (if you have a fear of clowns, beware).
You also have scenes with Jessie by herself, struggling with her phobias as she attempts to survive what's happening in the world outside.
The ending came at me from nowhere. What a way to finish this one (more to come, I hope).
Great job with the acting, too! Each person in this film created a character you could relate to. From Jessie and her phobias to her father and his reasoning behind his actions, to her sister and her best friend... each person did a great job bringing this story to the screen.
If you're a fan of dark and twisted, with mystery and suspense, then you'd enjoy this film. It may be short but it satisfies your craving for thriller/horror.
This film follows Jessie as her mind (voices in her head) holds conversations with various people in her life to try to get Jessie to acknowledge what's happened to her.
You have scenes with her sister, her father, her best friend, and my favorite, Snappy, the clown (if you have a fear of clowns, beware).
You also have scenes with Jessie by herself, struggling with her phobias as she attempts to survive what's happening in the world outside.
The ending came at me from nowhere. What a way to finish this one (more to come, I hope).
Great job with the acting, too! Each person in this film created a character you could relate to. From Jessie and her phobias to her father and his reasoning behind his actions, to her sister and her best friend... each person did a great job bringing this story to the screen.
If you're a fan of dark and twisted, with mystery and suspense, then you'd enjoy this film. It may be short but it satisfies your craving for thriller/horror.
Blown away!
mjlabeff23 April 2021
Wow, wow, wow! Two thumbs up!! I watched on my iPhone and listened through my ear buds, and it was intense. The actors were amazing and the music was awesome. The ending totally scared me!! Listening through my ear buds and watching in dim light next to sliding glass doors totally freaked me out!! Bravo SJ and Bella Emy.
Creepy, but wished it was longer.
jakej-1494722 April 2021
I was lucky enough to get an early copy of Mr. Hermann's first short film release. I'm not big on spoilers so I keep to the basic plot. Jessie is a teenager who has been infected by some type of virus that is causing her to have hallucinations. To make matters worse, she suffers from phobias, anxiety, and panic attacks.
Be aware that if you are afraid of clowns, there is a scene that will absolutely freak you out. My only grip is that I really wish it was longer. As the acting goes, the actress who portrayed Jessie was brilliant. Her sister got really creepy at the end that sent shivers down my spine. The unsympathetic father, I thought, really grounded what was going through Jessie's mind. Snappy the clown, this performance will need to be seen. And finally the calm in Jessie's mind, her friend Sam. All the performances were fantastic.
Recommend.
Be aware that if you are afraid of clowns, there is a scene that will absolutely freak you out. My only grip is that I really wish it was longer. As the acting goes, the actress who portrayed Jessie was brilliant. Her sister got really creepy at the end that sent shivers down my spine. The unsympathetic father, I thought, really grounded what was going through Jessie's mind. Snappy the clown, this performance will need to be seen. And finally the calm in Jessie's mind, her friend Sam. All the performances were fantastic.
Recommend.
An Excellent Adaptation of a Great Story
romalp25 April 2021
A well crafted horror story with a film noir flavor. As a fan, and friend, of S.j. Herman's writing I feel the film makers captured the mood of the author's story well. The actors were talented, and vivid in their portrayals of the characters. And the clown really creeped me out. Well done.
Scary and surprising!
cmesick-2250812 May 2021
Debut indie director's film makes you think.
indiecritical26 April 2021
Warning: Spoilers
I've watched many indie films in my lifetime, some bad, some pretty damn good. So I figured, why not start reviewing them. My first review is a short film from new indie filmmaker, Steve Hermann.
In the Dark is one of those short films, that when it's over you sit and think, it can't end here. Unlike so many indie short films I've watched, In the Dark has an underlying message that is cleverly interwoven in the story that if you don't pay close attention, you will find yourself lost. This isn't just a psychological horror film, it's a horror story of what goes on in the mind of a person who suffers from different mental disorders.
Taydem Shoesmith shines as Jessie as she shifts through different hallucinations from people in her life after being bitten by a zombie. It's Shoesmith's performance that engages us as we view what she thinks of herself and how she believes others view her.
Her first encounter with her sister, played nicely by Magdalena Conway, gives us a hint that Jessie's fear of losing someone leads to her thinking of committing suicide to end her own pain like her sister did.
We immediately shift to her father played by Pete Berwick. Instead of a creepy ending, this sequence is meant more to dive into Jessie's personal relationship with her father and a set up to, without a doubt, the best sequence in the film, but not before we see Jessie back in the room, starting to show signs of turning.
Next to Shoesmith, Beth Metcalf's Snappy the clown stands out as she gives Jessie a tour of her own mind. It is here that we get an insight on how Jessie views herself through Snappy's maniacal, and creepy tenure.
Next up is Jessie's friend Sam, played compassionately by Paige Bourne. Sam is Jessie's voice of reason, that is until we find out that....just watch.
The final sequence finds Jessie hearing gunshots outside her room. I'm going to end it right here because what happens next took me completely by surprise.
Does In the Dark have its flaws? It has a few, but they never take you out of the experience. I would say it's biggest flaw, and why it's been knocked down a few stars, is that it should have been a full length movie so we could get deeper into Jessie's mind. I wanted to know if Jessie WAS the reason her mother left. Who's picture was turned over on the table? Who raped her sister? Maybe these are questions purposely left open for the viewer to decide. Nonetheless, In the Dark will keep you engaged for 16 minutes.
A quick note, at the beginning of the film, pause to read what's on the tablet.
7/10.
In the Dark is one of those short films, that when it's over you sit and think, it can't end here. Unlike so many indie short films I've watched, In the Dark has an underlying message that is cleverly interwoven in the story that if you don't pay close attention, you will find yourself lost. This isn't just a psychological horror film, it's a horror story of what goes on in the mind of a person who suffers from different mental disorders.
Taydem Shoesmith shines as Jessie as she shifts through different hallucinations from people in her life after being bitten by a zombie. It's Shoesmith's performance that engages us as we view what she thinks of herself and how she believes others view her.
Her first encounter with her sister, played nicely by Magdalena Conway, gives us a hint that Jessie's fear of losing someone leads to her thinking of committing suicide to end her own pain like her sister did.
We immediately shift to her father played by Pete Berwick. Instead of a creepy ending, this sequence is meant more to dive into Jessie's personal relationship with her father and a set up to, without a doubt, the best sequence in the film, but not before we see Jessie back in the room, starting to show signs of turning.
Next to Shoesmith, Beth Metcalf's Snappy the clown stands out as she gives Jessie a tour of her own mind. It is here that we get an insight on how Jessie views herself through Snappy's maniacal, and creepy tenure.
Next up is Jessie's friend Sam, played compassionately by Paige Bourne. Sam is Jessie's voice of reason, that is until we find out that....just watch.
The final sequence finds Jessie hearing gunshots outside her room. I'm going to end it right here because what happens next took me completely by surprise.
Does In the Dark have its flaws? It has a few, but they never take you out of the experience. I would say it's biggest flaw, and why it's been knocked down a few stars, is that it should have been a full length movie so we could get deeper into Jessie's mind. I wanted to know if Jessie WAS the reason her mother left. Who's picture was turned over on the table? Who raped her sister? Maybe these are questions purposely left open for the viewer to decide. Nonetheless, In the Dark will keep you engaged for 16 minutes.
A quick note, at the beginning of the film, pause to read what's on the tablet.
7/10.
Don't watch if you're scared of clowns
givenslisa22 April 2021
Let me get the obvious out of the way. This needed to be longer. Don't get me wrong, this film doesn't waste a minute in its 16 minute run time and for those 16 minutes you are in the head of a girl who deals with mental disorders as the world falls apart in her mind. There is a lot of story to explore and In the Dark does a decent job at it, BUT, I wanted more. Much more. If you get freaked out by clowns like I do, watch out for the third segment. I had a hard time making it through.
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