The Stylist

'The Stylist (2016)' would later go on to be adapted into a feature film, but it's as complete as you could imagine. The short film focuses on a hairdresser who has a tendency to take a little too much off the top. That's sort of all there is to it in terms of story, but this simplicity is more of an asset than a weakness. It allows the piece to act as a sort of character study, remaining in the perspective of someone who'd traditionally be an antagonist. It has a lot of empathy for its lead, even though her actions are obviously not acceptable, because her horrific deeds are driven solely by isolation and insecurity. Thanks to a solid atmosphere, some convincingly painful gore and a tight pacing, the short remains interesting and engaging throughout. It's an entertaining effort and I hope its long-form counterpart is just as good.