The short film is like a delicacy that simmers on a low flame. Play with its intensity too much and you run the risk of overcooking it. On the other hand, find the patience (and the expertise) to let the narrative come to a boil in its own time and the flavours and aromas are infused in the most beautiful manner. This is where the creator succeeds most effortlessly. Along a pretty, hilly road, a man finds himself stuck with a broken down car close to sunset. When a kindly old woman decides to give him shelter for the night, his troubles seem to be nearing their end. However, the narrative, despite appearing to be completely harmless, invokes an eeriness that is bound to disconcert the viewer, and indeed there's a reason for this discomfort at the end of it all.

The Guest | Short Film of the Day

The film exhibits notable skill in the manner in which it utilises limited space to tell its story. With intelligent camerawork and a single member cast and crew, it not only aims for an ambitious product, but also achieves it. Inspired by Bong Joon-ho's acclaimed thriller Parasite, the narrative invokes a reality of suspense, thrill, hidden messages and perhaps a possibility of violence. Once the protagonist finds out that the flickering bulb in his house is more than a loose fuse, there are several unanswered questions he must find the answers to. However, once he finally reaches his destination, would the outcome be a desired one?

Morse | Short Film of the Day

The short film by Vikram Bhatt is the story of four strangers who are forced to take shelter in an abandoned house in the middle of nowhere due to a snow blizzard. It opens with a gory scene of an attack on a boy called Karthik. Before any sense can be made of what's going on, the narrative goes six hours back in time. It continues to oscillate between the past and the present, keeping the viewer on tenterhooks all along. Use of toys in shadows, perhaps reminiscent of the iconic slasher series Saw, is one of the many tools that help add to the eeriness of the setting. As attacks begin on them one by one, perhaps in a desperate attempt to rationalise it, they're immediately chalked down to being caused by a wild animal. Soon after, the question of the supernatural soon enters the narrative. However, how far are they from the truth, and more importantly, is any escape possible even if they manage to figure it out?

Let's Play | Short Film of the Day

The short film skilfully uses the plot device of a narrative within a narrative to surprise the viewer when they least expect it. Sticking to the genre of thriller, it further catches the viewer unaware with a heightened sense of suspense and anxiety, and the cinematographic transitions are to be thanked for that. While the film is well-written, it falls short of the mark of brilliance, which is also true of its performances as well - good, but not entirely there. Additionally, it does employ the stereotype of a debauched artist, struggling to make a product. It would perhaps be refreshing to see a writer's block with fewer cigarettes and alcohol bottles.

Omni | Short Film of the Day

A man is deeply frustrated during the lockdown. The same dissatisfaction leads to an unpleasant effect on his relationships - be it romantic or those within the familial space. However, there is still no escape from daily chores, which is why he finds himself making his way to a dusty corner of the house where he soon stumbles across something strange. It is at this juncture that the story begins to develop after establishing its premise for you. It further aims to invoke a conversation on the forces of good and evil and the manner in which they influence and shape existence. The film makes efficient use of a limited space and lean cast and crew in the face of the Covid-19 lockdown. Though the final product could have gained from a little more tautness in the narrative to sustain its element of suspense before it wanders off, it still delivers a devoted and notable endeavor of storytelling, and should be appreciated thus.

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