The Peripheral

No spoilers here, of course, but I saw this very interesting short at Rome's 2015 Fantafestival and, since it is one of the few I really liked, I thought of dropping a review. Let me first say that the short is obviously very well done, both dramatically and technically. The central idea of a patient with an allegedly supernatural issue to resolve and who is not believed by his psychiatrist (who will pay dearly for her skepticism) is clearly not new (as a matter of fact there were two or three shorts at the festival that told the same story in different ways, proving this is quite a well established, effective clichè). However, JT Seaton has added something new to bring this beyond the otherwise inevitable deja vu. And this is what I liked the first part of the short for: you actually see nothing scary! No special effects, no cheesy horror references, nothing: just a great, building atmosphere. The interaction between the two actors (Lynn Lowry is particularly effective as Dr. Redding) is what everything is about. The director used a very interesting style in the editing (with some shots remind me of Dario Argento's Deep Red) and the build up was great. That's my whole point: I would have kept it that way and, without spoiling the ending, it would have been great if the short had remained in the realm of suggestion, rather than visual exploitation. 6 out of 10, then, rather than the 8 I would have otherwise given. Still, a very nice short standing out in the crowd.

Well crafted is the fair definition for this clever perspective about a man, his fear, a skeptic psychiatrist and a terrible revelation.

Well acted, it has as virtue the office of psychiatrist and the reference to adventure films, inspired by mythology, of 1960 decade.

The real problem is the obvious dubts of director about the end. His solution seems more didactic, ignoring, maybe, the virtues of ambiguity and suggestion.

But, sure, well acted, wel crafted scene by scene, offering fair dialogue and tension, it is one of rare films proposing the old fashion atmosphere of classic horrors.

And this is more than a simple virtue.