User reviews

The voice of Toby Wallace. The rural landscape. The man with the crowbar. And the terrible answer to the expectation of the viewer. A great short-short film. Because you feel the story and discover the old song as more than eccentric piece. The blue photography, the faces, the horse, the car , the mother and child. And the voice of Toby Wallace. And something as cold mark remaining in memory for long time after the final credit. Short, just an intense film.

Why IS a tattooed metalhead standing by the side of a road singing "Old MacDonald"? Why is he shivering? Why does he look so uncomfortable? Is he shivering because it's cold, and he's shirtless? Is he shivering because he's coming down off something? Is he shivering because he's angered a farmer who's holding a gun on him and forcing him to sing this song as some kind of farm-related punishment?

The answer will shock you!

Sorry for the clickbait-related line, I couldn't help it. Plus, I'm not great with words so I can't really convey how good this short is, and how it sticks with you long after its 6-minute runtime is over. It really is just that good, though, and it WILL stick with you long after it's over. Toby Wallace's entire performance here is just perfect.

Nursery Rhymes plays out in one short which is all but the final shot. This is enough to engage me as I do like films that pull off a good one-shot with movement - much like a martial arts sequence, it feels to me like it is easier to make it if you have lots of edits, even though it can flow better with fewer. We start the one shot with the image of a topless heavy metal fan, awkwardly singing "Old MacDonald" in a field. This lasts a bit before the camera starts to move.

To say much more than that isn't right, as seeing a scene unfold and take a direction is part of the pleasure of the film. Suffice to say that it has impact, and is a good concept and delivery. Technically it is very well done, looks great, and all comes together well. The performances are easy to overlook, but they matter a great deal - and in hindsight Wallace is particularly good. Well worth a look; barely 5 minutes long but stays for much longer.