Hunting Bears

Jason Ruddy solidly crafts suspense in this short that will surprise you and lead you to reflect on societal standards and pressures regarding caretaking.

HUNTING BEARS is meaningful storytelling wrapped in (and upending) genre conventions. Worth the watch.

I recently viewed this short online and felt compelled to leave a review. It's not often you see a short that sticks with you - and this one does just that. I enjoyed it so much that I viewed it twice and I'm sure I will return to it again in the future. It is a dark drama set around the themes of caring and mental health - themes that are not covered enough on screen. Wonderful performances from the lead actors, Nathaniel Parker and Joel Beckett. I was also blown away by the fact that this was a debut from the director, as the direction and writing was fantastic. I would love to see what the director does next as this was an interesting first film and a conversation starter for what it covers.

I got to see this short at a short film festival in June and it was one that didn't leave me for days. It tackles several important themes, and ones that most filmmakers would shy away from incase of not handling them right. Hunting Bears delivers an emotional story that packs a few punches. It is not scared to show the reality of the subject matter - which some may not appreciate. But because of this rawness and honesty, we are left with a film that is controversial for those that don't understand it. It's beautifully shot and well put together. I was blown away by the performances, and this being a debut film, I really was surprised how good it was. Worth 10 minutes of your time if you're able to catch it.

I came across this film online and felt compelled to rate and leave a user review after watching.

The film centres around two brothers; Kenny and Andy. Kenny has Alzheimer's and is in need of 24/7 care due to his condition. This is all left to Andy due to no help from the state and no other family members to help support. Due to the stress and pressure such a role can take on a carer, Andy often visits a childhood spot in the woods with Kenny to escape it all. However on this occasion something is not quite right, with Andy often on edge and angry at the situation he finds himself in.

The performances from the lead actors are superb. A lovely gem of a film for those that enjoy dark dramas with heavy themes.

I throughly enjoyed this short form drama. It explores the themes of mental health and Alzheimers, and how carers are often forgotten about. Really great performances from the lead actors and a well composed soundtrack. Worth a watch!