WATCH THE FILM HERE
First, the Recap:
Nightmares. They haunt our darkest hours during the night, when sleep becomes less about rest and more about restlessness. Our mind clouds over and the images which unsettle our thoughts rise and fall for the duration, almost making us feel like there is no chance of escaping them–or even to wake up. For one hapless soul named Sean (Sean Mannion), whose life appears to be already in a state of unrest, mundane and devoid of any sense of motivation as he wades through a sea of inhalers and pill bottles on the bedroom floor, routine is his only friend.
However, he suddenly finds himself on the seashore, the whisper of a warm breeze and the soothing sounds of waves crashing on the beach. This daydream-like reverie, however, gets abruptly interrupted by an initially “innocent” but painful encounter with a shell in the sand. This only brings about another flurry of realizations, though, as Sean becomes acutely aware of things planned not unfolding as they should via his needed inhaler being empty, his subsequent labored breathing, feet sinking into the sand, and a bloody forehead oozing, even as a dark reality is revealed in ghostly moments of paralyzed horror.
Next, my Mind:
Finding a place where arcane legend and shadowy supernatural realms unite, director/co-writer Nicole Witte Solomon and co-writer/actor Sean Mannion’s 5-minute short film delivers an ultimately simplistic yet purposeful journey into the world of Germanic and Slavic folklore courtesy of its title’s eerie antagonist. But, what actually makes the narrative effective here is that while the straight-up horror elements exist, the dialogue-free execution and imagery more so shines a light on our own inner insecurities when we find ourselves questioning personal circumstances or perhaps elements of life we cannot figure out how to improve, then getting confronted by them, here via the diabolical ministrations of a Mare, whose sole purpose is to induce gloomy dreams in its prey. The film is smoothly shot, very basic, and decent enough visually, though the fake blood here had a few “weak” moments in its realism. The creature effects were fine, making the most of its brief but creepy and unearthly appearance.
Mannion’s role as the character of Sean is also an exercise in uncomplicated, surface-level delivery, which works in this case as the gist of the story, just being frank, doesn’t call for dramatic depth. In all truth, the film’s concept for his character warranted the downtrodden mannerisms and confused state of being the character showcases, made much more clear by the finale’s revelation about his “condition”. Being that the overall screen space she occupies is seriously limited, actress Sarah Schoofs certainly makes an impact as the titular title creature, capitalizing on the freakish look of the character thanks to the SFX and general body language exuded as she ravages Sean’s dreams. The enacting of the character certainly makes one realize what you don’t want to wake up to! In total, “Mare” is very much indie film at its foundational level, which isn’t a bad thing, as there can be the acceptance of slightly weaker elements in order to seek out the real heart of what the filmmakers were trying to convey. Or, it’s simply an example of a situation we all would hope never to experience, period!
As always, this is all for your consideration and comment. Until next time, thank you for reading!
