Whereas the quickly-produced slasher films that release not long after a beloved fictional character has recently entered the public domain are cheap and uncreative, this short horror film released onto YouTube on New Years Day 2024 is not only the complete opposite of that, but it also proves that as long as you know about what you're adapting and that you actually have a story that you want to tell with it, public domain horror can infact work, and work well.
The Vanishing of S. S. Willie by Night Signal Entertainment is one of the creepiest pieces of online horror media that I have seen in a while, and made for a great viewing experience that I thoroughly enjoyed and was hooked on all the way through, with me still thinking about it weeks after first watching it. The twist of the film is seriously one of the creepiest and unnerving that I have witnessed, and is much, much better than just having an unambiguously evil slasher behind a mask, with the sheer creativity of the film's story and atmosphere, the mystery of what happened to the ship's crew, and the horrifying images and thoughts that enter your head as you put two and two together and then finally as you listen to that final piece of audio at the end will be worth the 9-minute watch. It may not make you scream, but it will define you make you think and feel uncomfortable.
Overall I would highly recommend this short film if you're interested in new interpretations of old works, especially if you are a Disney fan, an analog horror watcher, or both! I hope that this film gets all the recognition and success that it rightfully deserves and that Night Signal make more films like it in the future that take lighthearted properties and put a dark but creative twist upon them, and maybe even a sequel to this film perhaps!
