2025 Mugs

• Directed by David Padilla, Samuel De Angelis

• Stars Carlo Marks, Jean Rosolino, Robert Sutton, Danilo Vargas Jr. 

• Run Time: 7:52

• Watch it: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xGqkyg7zcJs

What Happens

Alex returns home to his family after at least a year; his parents are having troubles. He arrives, and his mother starts talking about nightmares. His mother makes coffee but can’t find the mugs for some reason. Alex quickly figures out that his mother is in the early stages of dementia. Or maybe further along than that. And where is Alex’s father, anyway?

Commentary

Apparently, George really likes his coffee. I like coffee, could I have some coffee, too?

It looks great, very well shot, well lit, and done well overall. I don’t think there are too many surprises here, other than the general situation, but it’s one horror that’s all too common in real life. 

2015 Room 88

• Directed by Mike Booth

• Written by Mike Booth

• Stars John MacCormick, Gary Taylor, Blake Barbiche

• Run Time: 8:47

• Watch it: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5tLNEeraSfc

What Happens

There’s a knock on the door of room 88; the neighbor wants to know what he’s doing in there to make the lights keep flickering. The neighbor says he’s going to complain. 

Inside the room, the scientist looks at a small device he’s made. “It’s time,” he says as he activates the device and laughs maniacally. The lights do, indeed, flicker, and then go out. It’s still not working. 

Will he ever get it right? Apparently so. 

Commentary

This is the problem with the idea of time travellers; interesting events would be full of people who traveled there to see it. 

It’s got a very retro look, and the added annoyance of the busybody neighbor really makes it fun. It’s a simple idea executed really well, and it’s fun to boot!

2024 Portrait of Fear

• Directed by Parker Viale

• Written by Parker Viale

• Stars Lainy Larsen, Vivian Amirault, Joaquin Hinkens

• Run Time: 8:46

• Watch it: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cpXtToQXmsA

What Happens

A woman’s sister has died suddenly, and she decides to leave. She starts packing her things, and the memories come back to her. Exhausted, she finally goes to bed at 3:13 a.m. Just as she turns out the light, she hears the bedroom door close. 

The photo of Emily has gone blank. What could that mean? Nothing good.

Commentary

I liked the messages scrawled on what used to be the photo. 

This is really nicely done for what appears to be no real budget. It’s all shot in someone’s house, but it’s all very well-lit and clear what’s going on at all times. It starts out slow, but the tension ratchets up consistently up to the end. 

Very nice!

2024 Double Vision

• Directed by Isabelle Kiser

• Written by Isabelle Kiser

• Stars Isabelle Kiser

• Run Time: 5:02

• Watch it: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OFYDiMe8wSo

What Happens

A girl reads a creepy news story on the walk home in the dark. She sees someone strange standing next to a car, but when she looks again, there’s no one there. When she gets home, she’s careful to lock the front door. We soon see that she’s not as alone as she thinks…

Commentary

Seeing something like that at the top of your steps, why would you turn the light out? 

Isabelle Kiser wrote, filmed, acted, and did everything else here, and she did a great job. It’s short, and there’s no dialogue, but it all looks great and is nicely paced.