TGIF! The Horror Of Being Emily likes to start the weekend off right by featuring one spooky short film each week. Watch late at night with the lights turned down low to maximize the scary atmosphere. Grab your popcorn and enjoy!
Since my days curating ScareLA’s screening room, I have loved watching creative films from around the world. Short films are a wonderful way to start out as a filmmaker and demonstrate a proof of concept for longer works. It is much harder than you’d think to convey a coherent story in a short amount of time! I hope you enjoy this curated selection of the best fantastic horror, science fiction, and fantasy the internet has to offer.
Want to binge more? Check out all my past Film Friday entries.
Although not used together as much as they should be, horror and puppetry go together quite well. From Jim Henson’s creepy Skeksis to fluffy aliens in Attack the Block, puppets can add an element of horror to films. They lead themselves to practical effects and can be quite expressive if done well.
Puppetcore understands this principal well. The group makes all-puppet horror films. Their self-imposed rules are simple: 1. The Characters are real; they just happen to be puppets. 2. The effects are practical whenever possible. This leads of solid horror films that would work well even if created as live-action films. The group has created multiple short films and, in 2020, a feature.
Shine (2011) uses a simple concept – and harmonious tune – to create a chilling little tale of terror Be wary, there will be blood – a surprising amount in fact. This juxtaposition of cutesy puppets and gore adds to the uneasy atmosphere and watching these poor puppets meet their horrific fate packs an extra punch for the viewer.
As someone who enjoys spending her time in the spotlight, I think I’ll keep an extra light (or two) on tonight – because you never know what may be lurking out there in the dark. Enjoy!
A barbershop quartet fears their moment out of the spotlight.
Fun Fact: A Family Act – The barbershop quartet’s costumes were creaeted by director Jesse Blanchard’s mother.
Now that you’ve had a taste of Puppetcore, are you ready for more? In 2020 Puppetcore finished their first feature film, Frank & Zed. It has since been touring the festival circuit and delighting horror fans around the world. You may even see a cameo from our lovable quartet in the feature. Follow the film’s latest news and stay abreast of release announcements via Puppetcore’s official website.
Frank & Zed Synopsis: Two reanimated corpses, dependent on each other for survival, live a life of solitude until a power-hungry magistrate tricks a group of villagers into attacking their lonely castle, fulfilling an ancient prophecy: The Orgy of Blood.
See the trailer below.
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