Fantasia brings their all when it comes to short film collections set up in themes. 2021’s collection “Small Guage Trauma” caught my eye for several reasons apart from the catchy title. One of the films, “Thumb” is a directorial debut from Alexandra Pechman, Writer Of Blumhouse’s Into The Dark Thriller ‘TENTACLES.’ Here are some mini-reviews for each of the ten films.
Aria (the UK, 14 min),
Technology is the core of many horror-themed situational films. Aria is a token of systems like Siri and Hey Google. Ask, Aria to “turn on the lights” and the request is completed without having to walk around the house flicking switches. Here Aria is in charge of the security system and all the lights within the house of a husband and wife. In a single-location short film that quietly creeps up on you as you begin to notice, that Aria is more in charge of things than the operating manual pertains to.
Aria is fuelled by paranoia and adds a touch of surrealism as Tom begins to notice a few irregularities. Adding an extra layer of creepiness with flickers of imagery that only the audience sees, Aria puts Tom in danger without him suspecting anything until it’s too late.
Written by Christopher Poole. Cast: Susannah Fielding and, Daniel Lawrence Taylor
Thumb (the USA, 10 min)
Sometimes when you’re a horror fan, you see a title like “Thumb” and you simply hope there will be no cutting. Or if you’re an avid gore hound you might pray that’s what you’ll get. This is a story about performance art. It’s inspired by those who worked with their audience through violence like Chris Burden and Marina Abramović. Like Burden, who shot himself in the arm for the sake of art, Adams and Pechman impose a narrative about family ties.
Specifically, a thumb was used on stage, sliced off for all to see. With the famed Leigh Enders dead, her daughter inherits the home and all of her work. But she is haunted by more than just an errant stage thumb. There are more skeletons in her closet. Thumb is a poetic ode to evening the score in a game where there are no rules. The camera work is speckled with the highs and lows of the characters within it. It feels like a stage play that I walked into halfway through and I’m desperate to see how it ends.
Directed by Alexandra Pechman; Screenplay by Alexandra Pechman; Story by Kate Adams & Alexandra Pechman. Starring Kate Adams, DeMorge Brown
The Tenant (Spain, 9 min)
Although The Tenant is the shortest film in the collection, it manages to bring an idea that is complete. Harnessing all its impact in an everyday occurrence for some, “the dead leg.” But what if that dead leg you’ve woken up with was more than something that causes you to walk with a limp? As a woman wakes, she discovers exactly that. Thinking nothing of it, she calls the doctor to make an appointment when it doesn’t subside.
A stranger approaches her on the street and tells her she can see something. Not only that, this something is attached to her leg. Then she tells her exactly what she needs to do to get rid of this unwanted weight. The Tenant is a darkly lit, perfectly scored 9-minutes that I wished I had watched in the dark. This is one film that delivers on the small gauge trauma aspect in spades.
Directed by Lucas Paulino, and Angel Torres, and written by Lucas Paulino. Starring: Elvira Arce, Soledad Osorio, Belén Rueda. These films form part of the short film collection called Small Guage Trauma.
The Darkness LA OSCURIDAD (Mexico, 12 min)
The Darkness is a visually stunning revenge story. Only revealing the sordid details of what happened to a school teacher in the final moments of the film. With very little dialogue, the story relies on subtle details to piece together the intricate pieces that hold it together. Despite some confusion as to who exactly can see this woman, the story unburdens the cruelty that some succumb to without reprising.
Starring
Ixchel Flores Machorro
Cuauhtli Jiménez
Teresa Sanchez
Written and directed by Jorge Sistos Moreno
Habitat (Spain, 12 min)
Habitat feels like it was inspired by the world’s incessant need to be constantly ruled by technology. It’s not uncommon to see people watching television while on their mobile phones and multitasking several things at once is not something that raises an eyebrow. A science-fiction-drenched universe zeroes in on a man clicking dots on a computer screen.
His attention never wavers from the goal promised by a nearby TV screen. In between, he watches Brenda in a bathtub and smokes cigarettes while drinking beer in his dark and illuminated room. It could easily be one of many environments lived in by actual people in real life. But this is a game show and the people featured here are in-game show that never ends.
While the film is a fantastical view of a fictional world, there’s no mistaking the clear lines between what we are shown and what our lives reflect. Habitually repeating the same things over and over again. How many clicks does it take to get to paradise?
Habitat is a retro-fueled fever dream with a video game feel that stands out from the crowd.
Directed by Jaime A.Calachi. Written by Javier Huesa. Starring: Itziar Castro, Balbino Lacosta, Candela Liu.
Tropaion (Norway, 11 min)
Tropaion reminds me of a novel by John Ajvide Lindqvist called Harbor where a small town gives thanks to the sea with a tribute. Set in what looks like an apocalyptic world, a small group of people closes in on a young boy. His sister tries in vain to save him from being presented as the latest Tropaion. Loud rumbling noises come from the towering forests that surround the people who never speak but dispel when the forest is given what it so obviously wants.
A victorious score accompanies most of Tropaion in a film that feels as desolate as it looks. The color palette is simply gorgeous painted in mottled greens and misted landscapes. The unnamed girl creates tension in her movements as everything else stands still.
Directed by Kjersti Helen Rasmussen and starring Tea Green Ions
The Small Guage Trauma Short Film Set
Laika (UK, 8 min)
According to the opening intertitle, Laika was the name of a dog that was sent to orbit the earth in a rocket. Somehow, I don’t find it strange that the dog did not return and spent most of the opening minutes musing about how a dog would get back. This short film entertains the idea that perhaps the small dog exists. When a lone Russian finds himself fleeing from an event aboard an international space station he is unable to explain what happened to his crew.
His space shuttle heads towards Earth but the man is adamant there is something wrong. Laika is a short film that could easily be extended into a larger feature film. It feels almost like an apology to the small dog officials lied about after his momentous trip. The special effects are decent and the performances are solid.
Written and directed by Adam Fair. Starring Roisin Monaghan, Anton Saunders
The Relic (the USA, 14 min)
Mother of Movies has a few pet peeves when it comes to film. One is when the characters within a storyline stare straight into the reality of a situation and bluntly refuse to align it with fact. In the Relic, that’s exactly what happens when a small group of explorers finds a man and a key both related to a fairytale based on a faceless god.
The special effects were uneven in a way where the pivotal impact points were pretty good but the lesser blood work didn’t have the right voracity to play into the dangers of the situation. The monster was well done and the plot twist was decent but getting there was a little backward in coming forwards.
Written and directed by J.M. Logan. It stars Jesse Einstein, Stephanie Einstein, Megan Le, Andrew Oliveri, and Johnny Wactor. These films form part of the short film collection called Small Guage Trauma.
The Relic Teaser Trailer For The Small Guage Trauma Collection
The Last Marriage (Sweden, 15 Min)
A zoom-com that starts with Marie and Janne, a married couple going through the routine of wedded bliss in the wake of a zombie apocalypse. Somehow managing to apply a comedic sheen to a dismal and depressing situation Te Relic finds the couple singing happy birthday to their unseen zombie daughter, Alice. Of course, Alice lives in the shed out the back. They drink wine and watch television as the undead relentlessly try and intrude on their quiet evenings.
In addition, the tonal juxtapositions between the serious and dramatic blend perfectly in anecdotal harmony. The Last Marriage is a dark comedy that sees Marie and Janne talk about how to spice up their sex life. Their now monotone life, which once included trips to the Maldives and India is now overrun with flesh-eating dead people who want nothing more than to have the two join them on their journey instead.
The Last Marriage is a wonderful lighthearted interlude. It highlights the good times and bad times in an alliance with nowhere to go, especially if you’re fenced in.
Written by Johan Holmström and starring Emma Molin, and Christopher Wagelin.
You’re Dead Helen (France, 24 min)
Written and directed by Michiel Blanchart. Starring Mailys Dumon, Théophile Mou, Lucile Vignoles.
In what begins as a slightly comedic play on a haunting, Maxime is having trouble with his ex. She follows him everywhere, holding on tightly to every piece of her beloved trapped between the living world and the dead.
What’s more, “You’re Dead Helen” is the type of short film that takes you through a range of emotions. The small gauge trauma it delivers is of high caliber. It also finds its way through plenty of niche genre themes. Maxime simply wants to move on, despite Helen’s pleas that her being dead isn’t all that big of a deal. Of course, just when you think you’re in for a routine lighthearted supernatural story, the narrative proves itself worthy of darker moments. In just 24 minutes the twists and turns are wonderfully laid out.
Finally, the struggle between letting go and remembering the past is captured so well by its two leads, that it was easy to buy into their love story and feel empathy for everyone involved.
Final Thoughts Overall for the Small Guage Trauma Collection
To this end, all of these films feature themes that aim to shock and plant the seed of that small gauge trauma in life. Mother of Movies’ favorite short was a tie between You’re Dead Helen and The Tennant closely followed by Habitat. Surprisingly, the whole collection was really enjoyable and if you get the chance to see any of these, make sure you do.
If you’re interested in more information on the Small Guage Trauma Collection, check out this live Q&A
