Hello ladies and gentlemen, your pal Muldoon here with this week's selection of badass short films from all over. Whatever style of film you're into, today's lineup certainly has it (well... unless your style is like "fish porn," then you're just out of luck. Maybe next week though!). We've got killer slices of burnt bread, hallucinating alcoholics, zombies in Los Angeles (too many jokes there), and an incredibly dark film featuring Alan Ruck (Cameron Frye). Each film below was created out of a need to express or simply share a tale that had been ruminating in their minds. While I can't expect every film below to be for everyone, I certainly hope you find a film that just knocks you on your butt, a film that rocks your world, a film that you just wouldn't have seen otherwise. The whole point of SATURDAY SHORTS is to revel in the imaginations of others. It's a place to see new ideas while at the same time a place for fresh filmmakers to show off their work in a (digital) screening room full of like-minded badasses who all share that desire to see something new. Each week I have the privilege of sharing films that I think are special, films created by AICN readers like you and me, so if you've got a film of your own - send it my way! Perhaps you've got an idea for a short film, something tugging at your creative pant leg like a child who hasn't eaten for days. Feed that creativity - go grab some friends - write down your thoughts/ideas - set a time to get it done (even if it's wildly ambitious) and make the damn thing. "Muldoon... I've never made a film before..." Bah! Perhaps that first one will be a stinker (or not), but you'll learn what works and over time your shorts will get tighter and tighter (like a film blogger at a film fest). Or you truly have no desire to make something and come here to check out what others have done - that's totally cool, too! At any rate, let's get this shindig going. Let's hop on into today's lineup of wonderment.
DEATHLY
TRT: 13:46
First up is a horror tale from Mike Williamson. While the film just hit the internet roughly a week ago, it's just stepped off its wildly successful film fest tour. I had the chance to see this one on the big screen back at Fantastic Fest and think it's just incredible. It's like a perfectly executed CREEP SHOW segment where it leaves you wanting more, rather than waiting for the next one to end. The fact that the sicko in the film is played by Alan Ruck... it's beautifully jarring and adds to the "holy shit" factor that Williamson keeps piling on, on top of some slick visuals and a clean sound design. "Following the tragic death of his wife, a man is unsettled by chilling events in their house." Check out more of Williamson's work over on his Vimeo Page!
DEATHLY from Mike Williamson on Vimeo.
THE HOPE YOU PROMISED LOVE
TRT: 4:20
Next up is a film from UK Director Jack Weatherley and Neon.tv starring Jim Sturgess. It's a beautiful reflection of a tear in reverse (to overly simplify it). The visual effects in this short are on another level, and when combined with the music and cinematography involved... it's something truly special. If you are intrigued even in the slightest, then do yourself the solid of going behind the scenes of the short or checking out what else Weatherly has going on over on his website!
The Hope You Promised Love from Neon on Vimeo.
SURRENDER
TRT: 14:03
Writer Mark Renshaw and Director Christopher Carson Emmons have our next film, a dip into the mind of a functioning alcoholic. Renshaw pusehd this project into existence as he was compelled to shine some light on a dark problem, alcoholism. "An alcoholic struggles to get through the day in a surreal and frightening world where his inner demons appear real. Haunted by his worst fears, his sanity starts to slip, as does what little control he has left over his addiction." Check out the film's website and/or Facebook Page to get news, see behind the scenes images, and learn more about the film!
Surrender from Saga Flight on Vimeo.
CRUMB
TRT: 6:06
Our next short pretty much takes the cake (crumb cake?) in terms of silliness for this week. It's a comedy about The Walking Bread, from Director Dan McGee. "A single father fears for the safety of his daughter after the initial spread of the disease causing The Walking Bread leads him to slowly lose his sanity." I very much want to see more from McGee, if this is the kind of stuff his mind can whip up. Check out McGee's Hermitage Wanderer Facebook Page and his Star Now Page as well for more info on the man, the myth, the legend.
DEEP 6
TRT: 4:42
Let's go out with a bang. Last up for the week is a pretty nifty zombie flick from Scott McNamara and Kevin McNamara. "A young girl is ripped out of bed with moments to spare before the infected take over Los Angeles." If you're into zombies, this is four and a half minutes you really out to check out! Check out more of the McNamaras' work over on 18LIVES.com!
BOOM! That's it for this week, ladies and gents. I hope you had as much fun as I did with these films. Now I'm off to go catch SUICIDE SQUAD! But wait, if you're in the mood for more shorts - then check out any of the past articles below!
SATURDAY SHORTS 2012
SATURDAY SHORTS 2013
SATURDAY SHORTS 2014
SATURDAY SHORTS 2015
Hank & Honey: A Holiday Horror; Black Christmas; Grammy; Pick Ups (1/2/16)
Lilitu; Auld Lang Syne; Chronoshred; Ash Vs. Lobo Vs. The DC Undead (1/9/16)
Believe; The Dragon's Blade; Native Immigration; The Problem With Friends (1/23/16)
Harbinger; Hyperthermia; The Chickening; Head (1/30/16)
Erebus; Boldly Gone; Cupcakes; City In Crisis; Vandalaze "Great Big Things" (2/6/16)
Blurry; American Virgin; Azarkant; The Homing Bird; Sex, Lies, And Terminators (2/13/16)
Connected; Terry And Brenda; Fuck Buddies; Audrey; BigHead Walking Dead Parody (2/20/16)
Absence; The Adept; MAT ZO - "Sinful;" Dreamco; Hoot (3/12/16)
Pop Music; Tumble Dry Low; Rooms; Promise; Darth Maul: Apprentice (3/19/16)
Status Update; Kafka's Little Fable; Ghoster; I Got Your Nose; Creature Feature (4/2/16)
Steve; The Good Survivor; Field of Screams; Mirrored; Jack Edwards - "Falling In Love" (4/16/16)
Rest Stop; The Technician; Romp; Who's There?; If Joke & Harley Quinn Were A Normal Couple (4/23/16)
Trial; Star Struck; Color TV, No Vacancy; Notifications On; One Sunny Day (5/14/16)
You Are Not Alone; Giraffe Soup; Brother; Bury Tomorrow - "Last Light"; Rain (5/21/16)
The Group; The Trap; The Echo of Small Things; Alison Blaire - "The Sight of Sound"; James (5/28/16)
Blinking Lights; Dédalo; Invisible; Identity Crisis (6/25/16)
Schackled; Miss Nobody; I Hate Mondays; Jefferson; Mary's Passion (7/2/16)
Swap; Ghostbusters: All Manned Up Edition; The Invisible Man; Sleep Tight; Defining Fay (7/10/16)
Carl; Flat Tire; Loree's Crazy 'Bout Kittens; Chum Zone II: Shark Fin Soup; Archetype (7/16/16)
The Chaplain; Bump CLassique; The Listener; Timelike; Fantasy Hospital Episode 4 (7/23/16)
Trial Run; Thick Air; First Date From Hell; Rise; God, Me And The Salty Peanuts; Graves (7/30/16)
If you have a short and think it belongs here or are on the fence about whether to send it in, please do send it in - I'd love to see what you've put together. I've already seen hundreds of fresh new filmmakers' shorts and like any good addict, I need more!
Shoot me an email at "Mike@aintitcool.com"
In the subject line include:
“SHORTS” + “Your film’s name” + “The film’s genre”
Then, in the body of the email, please include a synopsis of the film and any contact information you might think I need or would want published. The more info you send my way, the more info there is to put with your short.
Please don’t feel the need to submit multiple times.
Remember, the filmmakers might still be in the audience, so feel free to share your thoughts in Talkbacks below. (JUST DON'T BE AN ASSHOLE). I picked them, so you know I think highly of all of these, but how about you fine folks? How'd you like 'em?
BY THE WAY: If you've had a short featured here, that means that I personally am a fan of your work, so feel free to shoot me any kind of news on new projects/films/whatever. I can't say I'll be able to help or in what capacity, but I'm interested in your work and am always down to see more! (Keep making cool stuff, everyone!)
- Mike McCutchen
"Muldoon"
Mike@aintitcool.com
