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.
Hazbin Hotel is the brainchild of animator Vivienne Medrano (AKA Vivziepop). Medrano graduated from SVA (School of Visual Arts) in NYC with a major in animation. She has a distinct style with her original cartoons – they are snarky, fluid, and filled with spunk. Medrano assembled a talented team of artists and animators to create a 30-minute pilot for an adult-themed animated series, Hazbin Hotel. This passion project is a mix of a traditionally animated style, the sexual themes, coarse language, and wackiness of Ralph Bakshi, and a dash of Invader Zim all mixed together with Medrano’s signature characters at the helm. And, it’s a musical!
Follow Charlie, the princess of Hell, as she pursues her seemingly impossible goal of rehabilitating demons to peacefully reduce overpopulation in her kingdom. After a yearly extermination imposed by angels, She opens a hotel in hopes that patients will be “checking out” into Heaven. While most of Hell mocks her goal, her devoted partner Vaggie, and their first test subject, adult film-star Angel Dust, stick by her side. When a powerful entity known as the “Radio Demon” reaches out to Charlie to assist in her endeavors, her crazy dream is given a chance to become a reality.
Warning: While this may be an animated series pilot, it is intended for mature audiences. Be prepared for lots of inappropriate language, sexual themes, and adult situations. This is an R-rated watch for sure!
While I would prefer just a tad less swearing and overtly sexual overtones, I am enthralled by this VivziePop version of Hell. There are so many little details in each scene – even after multiple viewings, I am still finding new nods to other characters and ways that each segment relates to other scenes.
I also love how the pilot perfectly sets up the relationships between the various characters and introduces many different storylines a full series could follow. There are no one-dimensional characters here; they all feel alive and multi-layered.
Charlie, the princess of Hell, is a bubbly, passionate young woman. She follows her dreams of reforming the damned souls of those in her kingdom. Her partner, Vaggie, is far less of a glass-half-full personality, but her commitment to Charlie and protectiveness make her a force to be reckoned with. Angel Dust, a famed adult-film star & stripper may outwardly seem headstrong and in control, but part of him is certainly happy to be Charlie’s first test subject with her “Happiness Hotel”.
The last main character of note is simply referred to as the “Radio Demon” . He is one of the creepiest animated characters I have ever seen. I can’t wait to find out what sinister motives are hidden by his ever-present grin (although the fan girl in me wants him to end up secretly being a good guy instead of the main villain). I’ll just have to wait to find out. What can I say – I’m a sucker for bad boys!
In 2020 A24 (the company behind such modern horror classics as Midsommar and Hereditary) announced that they would be producing a full season. No release date is currently scheduled, but you can learn more about Hazbin Hotel and all VivziePop’s updates at the official website, Twitter, and VivziePop’s Patreon page. You can also check out VivziePop’s Youtube channel for other original animations from her and her team.
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