SHARP SHOCK SHORT: THE MINIONS

The second short I've reviewed by Jeremiah Kipp (read my review of Painkiller here), The Minions is a very different offering.

While Painkiller was a sci-fi/body horror hybrid, The Minions combines a more psychological take on the genre with supernatural chills.

So, could this short match the dizzy heights of Painkiller?

Read on...

THE MINIONS (2014)

Dir: Jeremiah Kipp

Starring: Lukas Hassel, Robin Rose Singer, Cristina Doikos, Lauren Fox

SPEEDY SYNOPSIS: This is a short so I’ll try not to spoil too much, but read on at your own risk.

The short opens with William (Hassel) talking to the offscreen and creepy sounding Abigail (Fox) about an incident that occured in the past. He speaks about his journey through the streets of the city late one night and his bold decision to walk ‘The Witches Path’.
Abigail taunts him, claiming that he took that route hoping to see her, but William plunges on with his story.
He claims that he had nearly made it through this hazardous route when he came across two girls, Katrina (Singer) and Sarah (Doikos). Katrina is extremely intoxicated, collapsing in the street, and after weighing up his options, William heads over to lend a hand.
As the group stumbles back towards the girls’ apartment, we hear more from Abigail and witness Katrina’s breathy demands for a kiss grow more urgent and insistent as they progress.
What awaits them at their destination? Is this an innocent exchange… or a deadly one?

WHY IT WORKS: This is an odd, but beautiful and thought-provoking little film. Taking the inherent otherworldliness that descends on bustling city streets when nights falls and the crowds disperse to be replaced by the outcasts and weirdos, The Minions delivers a real punch.
I have seen (and intervened on behalf of) those the worse for wear on an evening out, so it is easy to feel William’s plight. You feel concerned for your own safety, but know that those with less control over their situation are at even more risk. From this hook, and with the enigmatic mystery of Abigail’s words regarding witchcraft and the minions of the unholy ringing in our ears, we are taken on a taut, suspenseful and wonderfully atmospheric ride.
To me, one of the finest things about this short is how beautifully shot it is. Kipp and his cinematographer Brian Dilg create something that is dark and disturbing, yet visually astounding and visually gorgeous. Using a muted colour palette and the deep, dark shadows of night, it feels almost like a noir movie, yet maintains that air of the paranormal, the sense of the witching hour, throughout. This is a film that positively broods.
Speaking of brooding, the nuanced performance of the undeniably handsome Hassel is spot on. He’s fascinating to watch, oozing charisma and effectively dragging the audience along his character’s arc along with William. I don‘t want to spoil anything here, but the subtle gestures, expressions and mannerisms he brings along the way add to the unnerving atmosphere of the short. We will certainly be seeing much more from him in the years to come.
As much as Hassel nails his character‘s complex arc, the impressive Doikos is also able to show some superb range in her performance. Starting up as innocent and helpless, she becomes unsettling, creepy and off-kilter, before then taking yet another twist. It's impressive work from a clearly very talented actress.
The equally defenceless and seductive Katrina is brilliantly realised by Singer. She is excellent and her delivery of each and every line is note perfect.

Speaking of delivery, the unseen Fox is an awesomely enchanting presence, her dialogue positively bristling with a destructive yet enthralling spite. Who is she? What is she? What is it that she wants? We are never quite sure but even though we find ourselves scared of whatever answers we may discover, we still dig for them.

That is a description that fits the whole short. On one level Joseph Fiorillo's story can be seen as deceptively simple, albeit dangerously alluring. Yet on another it really warrants significant dissection and discussion. It deals with a surprising yet stirring central theme — we are all potential victims, right up until the point we become the predator. It's an examination of temptation, opportunism, coincidence and fate. 

We are never shown any overtly supernatural incidents, yet a lot of the story could also be interpreted that way. Are the surprising developments free will or the result of falling under a spell? Are the minions weaving a magic to enslave and alter William? Again, these are questions that we are left to answer ourselves.

What we are given, however, are some incredible performances, some truly sumptuous visuals and an intriguing and atmospheric tale that will stay with you long after the end credits role.

SO WHERE'S IT AT? The short is currently touring the festival circuit where it is gathering plenty of fans. Be sure to check the film's official Facebook page for news on when it may be heading to a screen near your or for any updates on a home release. While you're at it, give the page a 'Like' —  Kipp and his talented cast and crew definitely deserve it.

10 WORD WRAP UP: Moody and mysterious examination of urban angst and the occult

If you haven’t already, do please check out and like the Hickey’s House of Horrors Facebook page, which you can find here. It gives you a nice quick link to any new posts on this blog, plus regular news updates from around the web. I check the Internet so you don’t have to! Alternatively, follow me on twitter: The House@HickeysHorrors

Until next time, I hope you enjoyed your stay.

SHARP SHOCK SHORT: PAINKILLER

Recently I was contacted by director Jeremiah Kipp about reviewing some of his work. I'm a pretty staunch backer of the creative talents currently working in indie horror, so I was quick to let him know that I'd love check out his work.

The very generous Mr Kipp then proceeded to send me a selection of his work.

I was mighty impressed by the first I watched, the darkly moody The Minions (there's a review on the way soon), so I settled down with another of his films, Painkiller, optimistic that it would deliver the goods.

And my word, it did.

PAINKILLER (2014)

Dir: Jeremiah Kipp

Starring: Jerry Janda, Thomas Mendolia, Kelly Rae LeGault, Jill di Donato

SPEEDY SYNOPSIS: This is a short so I'll try not to spoil too much, but read on at your own risk.

The short opens with a powerful besuited man (Janda) tracking down a skittish scientist (Mendolia) in a rundown building. As the two sit down to talk, we are shown the events that have led them to this moment.

In the not too distant past the scientist and his partner (LeGault) where working on a unique solution to the agony caused by terminal cancer. These colleagues (and lovers) felt that doping the dying until they gradually overdose was cruel — they aimed to create something that could return some dignity to the afflicted.

What they finally made was a creature, a slimy and repulsive looking invertebrate that would bond onto the spinal chord of a host and nullify the body's responses to pain stimuli, actively thriving on these and instead flooding the host's system with endorphins. This is a creature that could literally transform pain into pleasure.

Unfortunately the two used their entires research budget in creating the symbiote (the male scientist refuses to call it a parasite), leaving no funds to test it. This led to desperate measures — and after a brief discussion the pair decide that it should be inserted under the skin of the female scientist.

However, all has not worked as it should. How can a creature designed to survive on the pain generated by terminal cancer cope in a perfectly healthy woman? What toll has this taken on the couple, their relationship and their bodies? And what interest does the besuited man have in all this?

WHY IT WORKS: Painkiller boasts a fantastic premise, full of imagination. It is a unique and fascinating sci-fi/horror with real human heart and emotion. The story is undoubtedly very clever, combining science fiction, horror and character study in one neat package.
It examines the true nature of love and destruction — asking the viewer could you truly hurt the one you love? It is undoubtedly very shocking, going to some dark, dark places (I will now be chilled to the core every time I hear somebody say: ‘It isn’t enough’) and takes its intelligent base scenario to a truly warped conclusion.
I loved the way that this monstrous story sprang so much from good intentions: the characters of the scientists noble aspirations turning against them, until eventually the man’s own squeamish sense of decency condemns them to something far, far worse.
While the writing of the characters was very strong, special credit must go to Mendolia and LeGault for their fantastic performances in their parts. Legault will undoubtedly gather plenty of praise for her wonderful work in the role of the pain-addicted, disturbingly masochistic female lead. This is a challenging role and she runs with it. Every single one of the most disturbing scenes in this short focuses on her and she is a revelation. I will look out for her name in the future, she is very much an actress to watch.
Mendolia’s role is the less flashy, the less showy of the leads, and it could easily be overlooked. However, that is doing a grave injustice to the complexity of the part and the skill that Mendolia displays. He makes the scientist sympathetic, uncertain and desperate, yet still shows flashes of the hubris that led him along this path. He is a truly tragic character, a potentially great man brought low by his own fatal flaw. Mendolia GETS this and brings the character to life brilliantly. This is a talented actor.
I have read some complaints about writer Janda’s role as the mysterious individual who has tracked the pair down. Yes, he is eerily blank, but I think this is very much by design. I will discuss this in more detail below. You may be better off skipping past the following section until after you’ve watched the short, then coming back. SPOILERS********** He is a twisted individual, a devilish sadist who has become jaded due to the nature of his work. His very character is one who has lost the spark of life. This is why so many people also praise his work towards the end of the short when his true nature is revealed, now he has a new challenge he finds his verve once more. SPOILERS END**********
The cast are great, the story is great and guess what? Jeremiah Kipp's direction is great too. I particularly admired his restraint during the more intense scenes, using suggestion rather than gallons of garish gore to create a far more disturbing atmosphere. This isn’t to say that the film doesn’t deliver some intense scenes of torture and mutilation (it does) but Kipp cleverly makes the short about so much more than that. He uses lighting, framing and editing to ensure that each shot delivers exactly what it should — there are scares and real emotion in this short’s compact 12-minute runtime and it offers a chilling, thrilling examination of the human condition, discovery, addiction and codependency. 
Painkiller is clever, shocking and very well-made. Check it out, you will not be disappointed.

SO WHERE’S IT AT? The short is available to rent or buy at a bargain price on Vimeo right here! Alternatively, you can pick up a DVD and a wealth of cool merchandise at the short’s official web site, so you’ve got no excuse people! 
Also I suggest that you hit the Painkiller Facebook page with a Like. It’s a great short and well worthy of your support.

10 WORD WRAP UP: Body-horror, science-fiction and torture in this fantastic film

If you haven’t already, do please check out and like the Hickey’s House of Horrors Facebook page, which you can find here. It gives you a nice quick link to any new posts on this blog, plus regular news updates from around the web. I check the Internet so you don’t have to! Alternatively, follow me on twitter: The House@HickeysHorrors

Until next time, I hope you enjoyed your stay.