Spider

In my continued attempt to avoid spoilers, I am hoping that I can do fair justice in my review of this good little short. If you have not seen it please do. For me it does not merely sit in the comedy genre but does have a gore element without the blood and guts. A plot driven film that hinges on two story twists - one too obvious while the other unexpected and funny - there is not a real story to this short. It would be fairer to say this is a sketch of shorts that pulls off a well executed plot. The performances are neither here or there and you are left to marvel at how they achieved the visual effects and applaud the filmmakers for that and of course the brilliant editing.

Spider, the viral short film that laid the foundations of the Jack trilogy, based on the experiences of Nash Edgerton, who plays Jack and co-writes all 3 installments with his colleague and fellow countryman David Michôd, responsible for three other gems such as Animal Kingdom, The Rover and The King.

Spider is characterized by a very naturalistic and fluid mise-en-scene, filmed by the now highly sought-after Greig Fraser. In Spider we follow the couple Jill and Jack as they drive around Sydney in a classic lemon Peugeot. Jill is played by fellow director Mirrah Foulkes, who we discovered in the aforementioned Animal Kingdom. In Spider, the protagonist couple is in the throes of an argument, where Jill's silences increase the tension. Jack awkwardly tries to patch things up with his girlfriend. We don't know the exact reason for the discord, but it doesn't seem to be the first time Jack screws up and the only thing he can think of to say is that it was a joke. Something that Jill will throw in his face, for taking things too far. Alluding to Jack's mother's foreboding advice at the beginning: "It's all fun and games until someone loses an eye". This is where Jack's inner conflict comes to the fore, where his romantic side clashes diametrically with his compulsive prankster and catalyst, increasing the suspense of the short.

The tone of the short film is absurd, tragic and humorous at the same time, without being as raunchy as Jackass. Curiously, one can identify with it, there is a very real couple fight, universal fears such as spiders and needles, which achieve a communion with the audience and not only remains in the final anecdote. The consequences of Spider's Karma, is an idea that Nash Edgerton would go on to explore in 2008's "The Square", his feature debut, written and co-starring his brother Joel.

*A more detailed review can be found on the youtube channel Kristonkino.

I don't know why this short getting too much positive reviews! Short films are intended to create a sea of ideas within a short period of time. I saw some terrific short films in recent times such as Room 8 , La culpa , with Mind blowing twists.

But spider got a wafer thin and uninteresting plot.It might be more pleasing if its trimmed into a shorter length.With a running time of 9 minutes it create extreme lagging.

So, if you are looking for an interesting short with a good plot twist its not your cup of tea.You had better search Google for any other one.

Final verdict: Poor short film with an uninteresting plot.

Jack(Edgerton, charming, who also directs) and Jill(Foulkes, cute) are driving, well, she is, to be more precise, and he's in the front passenger seat. She's annoyed with him – he always takes things too far. A bit of a practical joker, that one. They stop for gas, and he buys her some apology gifts… and something else.

This uses its 8 minute running time(not counting the end credits, with, it's 9) well. Everything is established, set up. We're shown with a few shots and seconds everything we need to know about these two, as individuals, together, and each decision and event builds, until we reach the hilarious major punchlines. If you want outrageous, pitch black humor, Aussie productions are definitely the way to go. Production values are solid. Nothing feels like it's on a budget. This is a sweet rom-com about a couple who can get on each other's nerves… but who do really love each other. And then that is interrupted by a sudden burst of comedy, which is all the more effective by its surrounding short.

There is some brutal, disturbing content in this. I recommend it to anyone who loves this kind of thing. 8/10

Its realism represents the main virtue of this well crafted story about a second chance, a not inspired gift, terrible consequences of something who seems, first, an innocent joke and the last act or simple punishment of it. A film seductive more for its architecture than for story itself.