I appreciate the strong focus here on camerawork: close-ups, split screen editing, and substantial lighting and framed shots. Writer-director Keir Siewert clearly has a keen eye behind the lens, and for filming locations. Makeup and prosthetics are outstanding. The featured actresses, Chloe Wigmore and Maria Teresa Creasey, give great performances, realizing Sonia's pained throes and Rebecca's panic and alarm.
Even with a runtime of only 4 minutes, the brief narrative in 'Retch' is split into three distinct aspects. The first, depicting the onset of illness, is done very well for all the stated reasons, though at first I also questioned just where the short was going. The third, most minute of all at only a few seconds, shows us the outcome of the course of events. I appreciate the deviation from horror convention, and the upending of our expectations, though I'm not fully satisfied with the direction taken here, either.
Along with technical considerations, the strength of 'Retch' is in the second sequential aspect, in which Sonia's illness takes a turn. Here above all is where we get the greatest attention to all those details that make this as fine and enjoyable as it is. There was clearly much love and care poured into this short, and it shows, through and through.
Unless one especially objects to body horror - at only 4 minutes, there's no particular reason to not watch it. It's no great revelation, but very well done!
