WATCH THE TRAILER HERE
First, the Recap:
One thing that can be said about America–there’s the beauty of small town living. Not having to be caught up in the insanity of massive metropolises, horns blaring, and millions of people. Rather, why not simply relax and enjoy the prosperity, peace, and simple existence rural America offers. Welcome, dear travelers, to the town of Willow, ME. The season is Summer, and for one young couple, John (Brian Ashton Smith) and Elise Graham (Anne-Marie Kennedy), it means a much sought after vacation away from normal life, a time to relax in relative solitude. Upon arriving in Willow, it seems friendly enough–at first.
Meeting some local townsfolk, including Henry Eden (Kermit Rolison) and Laura Stanton (Jan Mary Nelson), the couple quickly discover they’ve actually been expected, its known where they’re staying, only now divulging why they chose Willow in particular. Upon hinting at the town having a history, both Henry and Laura warn the two off, stating it would be better that they leave town, or if not, stay inside on this first night. Undeterred, John and Elise head to their isolated woodland rental home and, despite some rather odd portents, settle in. But, once nightfall comes and a thunderstorm arrives, the absolute nightmare commences.
Next, my Mind:
Strike up the band and let the celebration begin as director/screenplay writer/co-producer Vanessa Ionta Wright and co-producer Samantha Kolesnik once again deliver a first-class horror/thriller, this time via an adaptation of a short story, by direct permission, from the undisputed master of horror himself, Stephen King! As previously indicated in my recent review of “I Baked Him A Cake”, the genius in execution here is to play on one’s fears from more of a psychological direction than via all-out bloody mayhem. It’s the building up of sinister omens, unheeded admonitions, naïve curiosity, and final consequences, all veiled beneath a veneer of innocence and down-home pleasantries. Additionally, once the frights have truly begun, it is a fantastic exercise in conjecture, the imagination run wild, based on what is shown, that heralds the narrative’s fateful coup de gras and townsfolk’s admittedly remorseful yet eerily subdued reaction in the aftermath.
Smith and Kennedy are both excellent here as couple John and Elise Graham, very much enacting them as a typical American pair in love looking to enjoy time away together from the burdens of life, hoping to find such peace in remote privacy via a small out of the way town. Yet, they sadly possess that foolish non-worried manner when warned about the first night’s coming maelstrom, and watching them experience the price it comes with is freakishly disturbing, thanks to some solid acting from the duo.
In a different and no less entertaining way, Rolison and Nelson present Henry and Laura as this perfect, normal, easy-going, welcoming pair of small town folks who so deftly conceal dark secrets about Willow and its unassuming state of being. Their friendly demeanor that transforms to unsettled concern when the couple mentions Willow being a town with a history is seamless and effective, as is their quite blatant ho-hum “well, it’s sad, but business as usual” during the finale that is darkly comical.
Supporting appearances are given by Bryan Michael Dickerson, Lillian Gray, and Emma Josephine Wright as well. Overall, with its only-hinted-at creatures, creepy atmosphere, smoothly shot execution, and well-adapted screenplay that so accurately reflects the consummate, polished compositions of terror authority King, this reviewer truly hopes Wright and Company’s 20-minute short film garners both the attention of King himself, but also of the legions of horror fans who not only love his work, but the noteworthy efforts this film demonstrates exists within the independent film realms. Oh, and believe me when I say, after seeing this, the next time it storms, you’ll greatly wish it sticks with cats and dogs!
As always, this is all for your consideration and comment. Until next time, thank you for reading!
