The Blue Drum

It has potential to be a quite entertaining horor drama but... hey... who cares about entertaining the audience, right?

Let's just have a nice enough idea, half bake it, get some back-ups and lazily produce it!

An additional 15-20 minutes of nicely put together story will make this still a short film which won't make none of scream, "that's it?!" I can get this way of storytelling for an almost drunk uncle on Xmas.

Well, thank you, maybe they thought we're smart enough to put 2 and 2 together but hey.... we smart people hate it when others waste our time even for a tiny 16 minutes.

"They're smart enough to make a production, I thought they're smart enough to tell a story well," say I who must rant more because... I gotta meet the character limit.

... drum? Is that an actual saying or am I making this up? I kind of feel I have heard this before. But that is a thing with memories - if it's sayings or people we miss(ed). And that is the segway to this short movie - no pun intended as always of course.

Losing a loved one is never easy. I think I saw a teaser for this at a horror film festival last year. It could have been a different one that has a similar tone - grief but also trying to figure out a way to close a chapter of ones life ... to move forward! Which is only possible if you can say goodbye ... or find something out about yourself or a relative ... it is the latter in this one - drum(roll) please! No pun intended once again to close things off.

If this was a full length movie I would watch it. The story and characters were good and it was shaping up to be a solid horror thriller.

I think this movie short was great but it would be nice to have a little more backstory.

Still as a short film it worked and the ending was a real kicker. It just didn't have the time to really ramp up the chills.

Despite not being a longer film. The acting and story were great and I did like the way it all unfolded and then wrapped up at the end.

I do hope the creator goes back and does a longer and more in depth version as I think it would be a horror mystery worth watching.

"The Blue Drum" (2022) is a short film that attempts to create a haunting and atmospheric experience, but ultimately falls short of its potential. While it boasts some intriguing visuals and sound design, the narrative feels underdeveloped and leaves the viewer with more questions than answers.

The film follows Leticia, a young woman grappling with the recent death of her father and the mysterious circumstances surrounding her mother's disappearance. The atmosphere is effectively eerie, with the use of shadows and sound creating a sense of unease. The performance of Crystal Hernandez as Leticia is commendable, conveying her character's vulnerability and determination.

However, the film's narrative feels rushed and lacks clarity. The central mystery surrounding the blue drum and its connection to Leticia's family remains largely unexplained, leaving the viewer feeling unsatisfied. The ending, while attempting to be impactful, feels abrupt and lacks a sense of closure.

While "The Blue Drum" demonstrates potential with its atmospheric visuals and sound design, its underdeveloped narrative and unsatisfying conclusion prevent it from being a truly compelling short film. It feels like a missed opportunity to explore a more profound and engaging story.

At her father's wake, Leticia clashes with her Aunt Norma, who criticises her father, claiming him to have been a poor excuse for a brother and husband. Leticia feels a void for the mother she never knew, and searches the house for answers.

I wish I'd checked the running time before I started watching it, by the time I'd gotten into it, and started enjoying it, the end credits were rolling, so just be mindful that this is 16 minutes long, and definitely not a ninety minute movie.

For a short, it's very effective, a good story, good development, and an interesting and surprising conclusion.

My advice is to ignore the negative reviews, this short is worth your time, enjoy it over a coffee. There's nothing here to thrill or shock, but it's a decent watch.

Crystal Hernandez doe as fine job as Leticia.

6.5/10.