Alright. I'm impressed.
There are familiar story threads woven into 'Milk teeth,' but the final product is no less exciting. Strong attention to lighting and set decoration makes every inch of each scene feel as dusty and grimy as it looks, lending much to the building tension and unease that quickly digs under our skin. That disquiet works in marvelous concert with the vivid, jarring acts that the children perform to satisfy their cringe-worthy preoccupation. There's a measure of body horror here, and the result of it all - even before the climax rolls around - is a short that's keenly, viscerally unsettling.
Much love to Meredith "Kat" Wells, art director for this film, who it seems also deserves credit for designing that element that underlies the feature and ties it all together. Her work is duly hair-raising and looks great in those purposefully sparing glimpses we see. Both in Wells' creation and in the tenor of 'Milk teeth' as a whole, very particular dark fantasy movies come to mind, not least of all 'Pan's labyrinth.' That's not to compare content - only atmosphere, and quality.
The sound and image quality are sharp and clear, making sure no flinch-inducing detail is lost on the audience. I love the small tale writer Nick Lopez has concocted, and its visual realization is entrancing. While not acutely shocking in the sense of including "jump scares," the film carries a palpable sense of horror, both in what we see and what is withheld from us at the psychological moments. 'Milk teeth' is a wonderfully discomforting short film, well worth checking out.
