AoBFF 2021 Selections From “Poor Decisions and Bad Luck: The Dark Side Short Film Block”
First, the Recap:
As human beings, aren’t we a piece of work when it comes to certain judgment calls that don’t always seem to be the most intelligent of maneuvers to make? You might wish to term it “horror movie syndrome” to really illustrate the level of foolishness that can emerge when we aren’t really thinking things through. Sometimes, though, it can also just be an initial case of purely poor timing, getting immersed in situations whose outcomes are either suspect or vague at best. When the lights go out and an endless darkness consumes our place of residence, do we succumb to fear of what might lurk in the shadows? When accepting what appears to be a normal job to watch over some kids actually turns out to be much stranger, and much more unexpectedly fulfilling, than we might foresee? Or it could be coming to the home of a family friend whose motives turn out to be–less than amicable. Welcome to a place where outcomes are uncertain and where you might always learn a lesson–but will you make it through to live it?
Next, my Mind:
In this final article encompassing coverage of the 2021 Art of Brooklyn Film Festival, I happened to pick and choose a total of three films that made up a section of the “Poor Decisions and Bad Luck: The Dark Side” short film block, ones that attracted my attention whether by general title or baseline narrative description. Now, given the grander scope of the block’s apparent gist, I was expecting more horror-based efforts somehow. But, what I got presented was an unanticipated mash-up of comedic, dramatic, and eerie elements across the projects that more than befit the grouping’s foundational moniker. Need I state it YET again that it fully delivered the kind of freshness, impactful intent, and intelligently unique approach that the indie film community always aims to offer, making what I feel is the definitive statement that the genre is one we as mainstream filmgoers SHOULD and NEED to find a way to embrace more and more to aid in garnering the necessary recognition these filmmakers deserve.
In writer/director/cinematographer Zack Kron‘s short “Matched“, being afraid of the dark stands as a core premise and circumstance involving via a young woman (Heather Drew) discovering the power’s out in her apartment one night and that stumbling around in the blackness isn’t exactly in her best interest–for it seems something else might just be in the situation with her. Even as the events unfold, her entire world gets condensed into the individual matches she has to light to find her way through the Stygian reality, with the menace and tension growing moment by moment, ultimately leading to a finale that was decidedly, incredibly, unflinchingly stunning and certainly not remotely predictable, which is what makes this film a touch of genius. It is a undeniably admirable, smartly executed (creepy music and all!), cleverly shot short that take an oft explored thematic subject and does more than turn it on its head–it flat punches its–well–lights out! She needed protection! It’s a thing of utter beauty, folks! Andrew Wong co-stars in the film as well.
The mood takes a more weighty, compelling angle through writer/director/editor Jones’ project titled “Sitting” where we find a young, driven, but stagnant and frustrated actress named Bryn (Allyson Morgan) desperately attempting to land a gig to at least see if any momentum could be gained towards her true, yet starting-to-doubt-its feasibility, dream career. Taking babysitting jobs on the side to make ends meet, she answers a call this particular day from Kyle (Louis Ozawa Changchien), a grown man who turns out to be–the actual client. Taken aback and initially freaking out about what agenda is in play, Kyle’s erratic yet sorrowful state of affairs gets revealed, and soon Bryn finds herself unable to pass up an offer she cannot refuse–while also potentially helping an inevitably abbreviated life get changed forever. Hopelessness, our mortality, the value of dreams, re-evaluating, reassessing ourselves, and revived choices made all get addressed in what leads to a fantastically potent, deeply stirring finale that magnificently caps it all off.
The final film from my chosen trip arrived via the straight-up horror/thriller effort “Koreatown Ghost Story” from the tandem writer/director/producer duo of Minsun Park and Teddy Tenenbaum that sees a young woman named Hannah (Lyrica Okano) coming to the mansion home of the creepily enigmatic family friend Mrs. Moon (Margaret Cho), who has summoned her unassuming guest to unlock the secrets of both a traditional Korean ritual and the equally mysterious puzzle box given to Hannah as a childhood gift. What ensues is most assertively frightening and unearthly, even as Hannah strives to escape an ominous fate that may or may not alter her own life in more freakishly terrifying ways than one. It’s the wonder of this style of horror that makes the film effective (think, in broader terms, films like “The Grudge”) paired with some excellent acting and appropriately “veiled” visual effects that only fully pop out when best utilized to create maximum chills. It is the exact type of piece I prefer when it comes to horror genre, perfectly done. Brandon Halvorsen and Park herself have key supporting roles here.
So, in total, this small assortment of shorts was an exemplary conclusion for this critic to what was arguably one amazing film festival experience that continues to illustrate for me why I love supporting the artistic, impassioned, hard-earned, fully invested creativity showcased in works like these and the other projects I had the enjoyment of screening at AoBFF 2021. Independent film on all levels is something still to this day striving to gain the spotlight, and while we have seen an increase in said efforts getting larger acknowledgement on the Hollywood stage, it still feels like it’s the even small, sometimes grass-roots films that even more so require a grander stage to shine upon. This critic just hopes festivals like AoBFF and others can aid in this process and fan the flames of indie cinema’s new rise to well-merited success.
As always, this is for your consideration and comment. Until next time, thank you for reading!
