In the Dark

Let me get the obvious out of the way. This needed to be longer. Don't get me wrong, this film doesn't waste a minute in its 16 minute run time and for those 16 minutes you are in the head of a girl who deals with mental disorders as the world falls apart in her mind. There is a lot of story to explore and In the Dark does a decent job at it, BUT, I wanted more. Much more. If you get freaked out by clowns like I do, watch out for the third segment. I had a hard time making it through.

I was lucky enough to get an early copy of Mr. Hermann's first short film release. I'm not big on spoilers so I keep to the basic plot. Jessie is a teenager who has been infected by some type of virus that is causing her to have hallucinations. To make matters worse, she suffers from phobias, anxiety, and panic attacks.

Be aware that if you are afraid of clowns, there is a scene that will absolutely freak you out. My only grip is that I really wish it was longer. As the acting goes, the actress who portrayed Jessie was brilliant. Her sister got really creepy at the end that sent shivers down my spine. The unsympathetic father, I thought, really grounded what was going through Jessie's mind. Snappy the clown, this performance will need to be seen. And finally the calm in Jessie's mind, her friend Sam. All the performances were fantastic.

Recommend.

A well crafted horror story with a film noir flavor. As a fan, and friend, of S.j. Herman's writing I feel the film makers captured the mood of the author's story well. The actors were talented, and vivid in their portrayals of the characters. And the clown really creeped me out. Well done.

Wow, wow, wow! Two thumbs up!! I watched on my iPhone and listened through my ear buds, and it was intense. The actors were amazing and the music was awesome. The ending totally scared me!! Listening through my ear buds and watching in dim light next to sliding glass doors totally freaked me out!! Bravo SJ and Bella Emy.

For a short film, this one manages to engage your senses; fear, anxiety, loneliness, sorrow, hopelessness, and manages to dig just deep enough to keep you wanting more.

This film follows Jessie as her mind (voices in her head) holds conversations with various people in her life to try to get Jessie to acknowledge what's happened to her.

You have scenes with her sister, her father, her best friend, and my favorite, Snappy, the clown (if you have a fear of clowns, beware).

You also have scenes with Jessie by herself, struggling with her phobias as she attempts to survive what's happening in the world outside.

The ending came at me from nowhere. What a way to finish this one (more to come, I hope).

Great job with the acting, too! Each person in this film created a character you could relate to. From Jessie and her phobias to her father and his reasoning behind his actions, to her sister and her best friend... each person did a great job bringing this story to the screen.

If you're a fan of dark and twisted, with mystery and suspense, then you'd enjoy this film. It may be short but it satisfies your craving for thriller/horror.