ONLY THE BEST SHORT FILMS
Film Of The Week: The Duel At Blood Creek
The Duel At Blood Creek by Leo Burton (2010) (UK) (14m)
The fabulous comedy, The Duel At Blood Creek, was a winner in the 4th FILMSshort Competition. Blood Creek is the name of a popular site where men settle matters of honour with an old-fashioned duel. Unfortunately, it is proving rather too popular today as several would-be duellers arrive at the same time. The bickering and posturing builds up until the fighting begins. But who will survive in such a bloodthirsty age as this?
Positive Reinforcement by Gustavo Astudillo (2024) (USA) (16m)
This black comedy presents a world where negative thoughts - that nagging self-doubt that most of us suffer from - are manifest in the form of masked doppelgangers, whose sole purpose is to inflict physical injury on their original self. Ronald, a struggling musician, is in a bad place and particularly liable to negativity, which means he is getting repeatedly attacked by his doppelganger
The Naughty List by Paul Campion (2016) (USA) (9m)
A competition finalist, The Naughty List reminds us that Santa Claus will visit all the world's children on Christmas Eve, even if the child in question - Vince - is an adult mobster hiding out with his partner-in-crime in a secluded cabin. The problem is that Vince's partner does not believe in Santa Claus and, fearing the stranger could be a hitman, is tempted to put a slug in him. For his part, Santa Claus is no saint, but how will this unusual situation end, and will the rest of the world's children get their presents tonight?
Claudia by Ed Wiles (2024) (UK) (2m)
A bedtime chat descend into acrimony when a woman casually seeks to draw out the sordid truth from her partner. The conversation reveals both a supreme level of passive-aggression within their dysfunctional relationship as well as the identity of the eponymous Claudia. As with his other work, like Coffee Name, the humour is quite British, being both dry and somewhat dark.
The Bloody Olive by Vincent Bal (1996) (Belgium) (10m)
The Bloody Olive is a slick, funny spoof from Belgium, where the comedy deepens as things go from crazy to crazier and then up a notch. Don't try to follow the details of the ever-changing plot too closely - just sit back and enjoy one stupid twist after another! Bal went on to make the succesful TV animated series, Kirka & Bob, while the ending of Community episode Conspiracy Theories and Interior Design closely resembles this film.
Knick-Knack by John Lasseter (1989) (USA) (3m) *
I always see Knick-Knack as a Christmas short film. Six years before he changed cinema with the release of his animated feature Toy Story, John Lasseter made Knick-Knack, which is not explicitly a Christmas short film, but feels like one because it centres on a snowman stuck in a snow globe. Desparate to join the other toys on the fun end of the shelf, our hero employs all manner of tactics to escape his glass surroundings but to little avail. Can he escape his prison?
Not Real by Michael Nicholls (2016) (Australia) (6m)
Not Real is a comedy about the disabusement of a child regarding Santa Claus, and his subsequent disallusionment with his parents and the world in general. Having been told that Father Christmas may not have been solely responsible for delivering his presents on Christmas Eve by his well-meaning but rather blunt father, the young boy feels compelled to reveal the heartbreaking truth to his younger sister.
Knight Of Fortune by L Lyskjær Noer (2022) (Denmark) (26m)
Knight of Fortune (Ridder Lykke) was nominated for an Oscar in 2024. It is very Scandinavian in its themes and tone, bringing to mind previous Oscar films like Helium and The New Tenants (by another Danish filmmaker). Knight of Fortune finds a man, Karl, come to see his wife in the morgue and looking to distract himself from his grief. He meets Torben, who is there for the same reason and does not want to have to face his grief alone. Things then get a little a strange
A Bear In The Woods by Andrew Laurich (2023) (USA) (11m)
When a bear interrupts a couple's lovemaking in a tent in secluded woods, they are forced to question whether their relationship is worth endangering their lives. It is a simple story nicely made and beautifully acted, with some top notch VFX to finish it off. Laurich also made the successful dark comedy A Reasonable Request back in 2015.
The Facts In The Case Of Mister Hollow by Gudiño & Marcone (08) (Canada) (6m)
This brilliant horror animation was co-directed by Canadian filmmakers Rodrigo Gudiño and Vincent Marcone with the writing credit attached to Gudino. I was reminded of it by the music, which is by Canadian band Johnny Hollow, and perhaps the best short soundtrack ever. It is apparently based upon a real-life photograph from the 1930s, while its title references The Facts In The Case of M. Valdemar, a short story by Egdar Allen Poe.
