Hunting Bears

Jason Ruddy solidly crafts suspense in this short that will surprise you and lead you to reflect on societal standards and pressures regarding caretaking.

HUNTING BEARS is meaningful storytelling wrapped in (and upending) genre conventions. Worth the watch.

I got to see this short at a short film festival in June and it was one that didn't leave me for days. It tackles several important themes, and ones that most filmmakers would shy away from incase of not handling them right. Hunting Bears delivers an emotional story that packs a few punches. It is not scared to show the reality of the subject matter - which some may not appreciate. But because of this rawness and honesty, we are left with a film that is controversial for those that don't understand it. It's beautifully shot and well put together. I was blown away by the performances, and this being a debut film, I really was surprised how good it was. Worth 10 minutes of your time if you're able to catch it.

This short film really hit a chord with me. Clocking in at 10 minutes, Hunting Bears is evenly paced and builds to a climatic conclusion. It focusses on the lives of two brothers; Kenny, who suffers with alzheimer's, and Andy, the youngest of the two, who is now Kenny's carer. The overall idea here is, "Who cares for the carer?", as it comes quite apparent that Andy is struggling with his new role as a 24/7 carer for his older brother.

Nathaniel Parker and Joel Beckett are magnificent in their roles. The director, Jason Ruddy, has directed and written a well rounded short here, that shows he is in control of what he wants to achieve with this piece. The cinematography is masterfully done and the soundtrack from Dave Rowntree fits the short perfectly. I will look forward to seeing what the director does next.

I throughly enjoyed this short form drama. It explores the themes of mental health and Alzheimers, and how carers are often forgotten about. Really great performances from the lead actors and a well composed soundtrack. Worth a watch!

I just watched Jason Ruddy's short film Hunting Bears, and wow, it really hit me. It's about two brothers: Kenny, who has Alzheimer's, and Andy, who's taking care of him. The story feels so real and heartbreaking, especially seeing how much Andy is struggling to balance love and frustration. You can tell he cares deeply, but the weight of it all is so heavy.

The setting really stuck with me too. Most of the film takes place in this snowy, quiet forest, and it's almost like the environment reflects their emotions-lonely, beautiful, and overwhelming all at once. The music adds another layer, making some scenes feel almost magical but in a bittersweet way.

Nathaniel Parker and Joel Beckett, who play the brothers, are incredible. Their performances felt so honest, especially in the smaller moments. There's one scene where they're just sitting together, and you can feel everything - love, sadness, and even a little hope - all without saying much.

If you've ever cared for someone or seen a loved one change because of illness, this film will stay with you. It's only 10 minutes long, but it packs so much emotion. It reminded me how complicated relationships can be, especially when life throws something as tough as Alzheimer's into the mix. Definitely worth a watch.