Short Film Review “Prey To Me” Unobtrusive subtlety at the start warps into enigmatic tension while leading us down an equally eerie and deftly crafted rabbit hole
WATCH THE FILM BELOW:
First, the Recap:
What we are consumed by. One could initially try to find some humor in that statement and equate with a monster-centric horror film so that the phrase’s make-up would be taken quite literally! However, let’s instead go beyond that and see it, perhaps, from a viewpoint of those things in our lives we dive into so deeply that they, well, consume us! They take our time, they STEAL it really, and when we abruptly realize just how much of said time we’ve invested, it might actually be too late for regrets or laments.
In her lonely second story apartment, a young woman (Shannon Walton) is relaxing into the evening in what we can only assume is typical fashion. As she’s getting sucked into what she’s focused on, the sudden realization that she is no longer alone in her place of residence strikes, causing her fear to rise, the need to escape imperative, and a “snapping back” to reality the strongest urge she is facing……or is it?
Next, my Mind:
In my time doing film reviews and establishing what I have felt is my unique approach and written voice, I also will state that I often pride myself on an ability to really dig deep into a film and pull out thematic undercurrents and messaging that lies beneath what is immediately obvious. Even with a baseline understanding of what a given project is about, I still look to delve further. However, I also freely acknowledge that I am, of course, human and always figured there would be times where I found myself a little lost as to what precisely I had just viewed. It was just under six brief minutes that it took to watch this new indie short film from TN-based writer/director/producer/editor Chad Allen Barton and believe me when I must transparently confess after it was over….I was lost. I could not ascertain in the slightest what I had taken in. Talk about frustration!
Now, even at the time I am writing this, I will still NOT totally claim to wholly comprehend what Barton had in mind, but upon having more time to really ponder, to reflect on everything, I at least FEEL like the figurative light bulb went off for me finally…..or at least my own interpretation of things anyway. Eliciting an ambiance that is equal parts ominous, unsettling, creepy, and cryptic as well as launching us into a realm that contains sci-fi elements to pair with the horror, the narrative sees the disturbing upending of a lone woman’s evening when she suddenly becomes aware “I am not alone!!” and the manner in which she attempts to handle the situation that follows manifests. One definite truth about this film is that paying attention to details is paramount, as it can hold the keys to at least formulating a foundational idea of events that are occurring.
Once more, we will return to the aforementioned arena of uncertainty on my part, but from what first and second viewings of the film brought to MY mind, there’s a hugely clever and intelligently executed foray into the sphere of influence represented by our tech-driven world and the ways in which it can infiltrate our minds, both when awake and even when asleep, removing us from reality and putting us in a place where monsters dwell. It seeks to control us, to have us worship it, even as it victimizes our very being, pursuing us relentlessly, and making us question what IS reality anymore?! This concept is horrifying when we are willing to step back to be honest with our digital addictions and their impact on us. Another recent short film, “The Nomophobe“, addressed a similar idea but in a more surreal, atmospheric way while here it is the unflinchingly raw terror and otherworldly insanity route, and it WORKS wonderfully!
Additionally, what stands out is the fact that when it boils down to it, the SOURCE of the woman’s invader is still not totally clear nor is it clearly defined WHAT it is, which only serves to make its physically imposing, monster/alien look and downright menacing vocalizations that much more intimidating and freaky! All we for sure know is that it WANTS, it FEEDS, CONSUMES, and will NOT allow us to escape it! Is this not an all-too-accurate portrayal of our tech-centric, tech-reliant reality?? In spite of a seriously short runtime, the film still FEELS full, and the finale only makes all we’ve already seen even gnarlier in its implicatons, continuing even as the credits roll. It’s a cry for help, a desperation to be released, left alone, back to being ourselves that thematically stick out, and let’s hope, assuming ANY of this is even CLOSE to what Barton intended, that it’s not just entertainment we get from the film, but applicable lessons and wake-up calls as well.
Walton gets to effectively be a solo artist here, or at least the only HUMAN one, through her role as the woman, a normal, everyday person who’s only attempting to enjoy her evening but may have inadvertently caused herself to enter an entirely different space, which then brings about a home invasion of the unearthly kind. As she strains and battles to finds a means of escape, the shadowy figure that gains access to her and makes her life even more miserable and scary dominates her existence until she finally might discover the means to fight back and win….or maybe not?? It’s one of those performances here that demands the ability to just play ordinary but then keep that grounded mentality when suddenly confronted with extraordinary encounter this character faces, and Walton does do a perfectly solid job at navigating this level of fear believably as well as in a way that suits the film’s course.
Supporting appearances are made by Jordan Alexander, Lawson Day, Ellen Koziel, Sharon Bailey, and Stephen Teague. So, in total, and under a serious magnitude of utter supposition that I have gotten anything right here, “Prey To Me” is at minimum grass roots filmmaking done right, rising above its basic production value to deliver a journey into the unknown, the uncanny, the frightening, and the actuality we’ve made come to life by trusting in things that don’t represent genuine substantiality, all wrapped in a sci-fi/horror shell that really does hit us where we live. Just hope you don’t see that glow and shadow moving outside your bedroom door. Because if you do, it’s already too late!
STAR RATING (out of 5):
As always, this is all for your consideration and comment. Until next time, thank you for reading!
