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“Hold to Record” (2019)
Director: Charlene Adhiambo
Rating: 2/5
“Hold to Record” tells the story of Leila and Neliswa, two close friends who, following the events of a dramatic evening, begin to realize that their connection may run deeper than they might have thought.
There is plenty that “Hold to Record” attempts that, in concept, could prove to be a very poignant and moving piece. With its tender, human story and characters, there is enough material for the audience to latch onto. However, in execution, the film is particularly awkward. Certain moments of acting, pacing and dialogue don’t mesh well enough to give off the desired emotional punch the film is going for. Similarly, the camera work, editing and sound design prove to be distracting in many places. A sweet idea muddled by weak execution, “Hold to Record” leaves much to be desired in the end.
“The Womb” (2019)
Directors: Aba Arthur and Kit Vinsick
Rating: 4.5/5
In “The Womb,” five women being interviewed for a new reality show share their experiences regarding childbirth and having a family, each with enriching thoughts and backstories on what their struggles have taught them.
Despite some minor technical flaws here and there, as well as a somewhat jumpy ending, “The Womb” makes for a thought-provoking piece. The performances are what truly steal the show, with each actress bringing a level of grounded realism to their role that made their character come to convincing life. Similarly, the screenplay is rich with ideas regarding the issue and is full of nuance and differing opinions, making for the conflicts feel far more compelling. Overall, “The Womb” is a fascinating deep dive into this very personal subject.
“Martha” (2019)
Directors: McKinley Benson and Enzo Hui
Rating: 5/5
“Martha” tells the chilling story of a mother whose son is soon leaving for college. After discovering of a group of mothers going through similar experiences, Martha will find out the extremes a mom will go to keep her loved ones close to her.
Full of a chilling atmosphere and great tension, “Martha” makes for great horror viewing. The film employs some excellent choices in cinematography and production design that add a haunting moodiness to the story, allowing the off kilter tone to build and progress as the narrative escalates. The performances are all mostly pretty great, with Jennifer Silverstein giving a perfectly frenetic turn as the titular character, with believable enough motivation to understand her actions. For those looking for a Halloween treat to kick off your season, “Martha” is a mighty good choice.
“One Shot” (2018)
Directors: Jordan-Paige Sudduth
Rating: 3/5
The first of two short films by Jordan-Paige Sudduth based on Alexandra Bracken’s “The Darkest Minds,” this short follows a group of color-coded kids, who have been kept inside of rehabilitation camps for seedy government purposes, as they prepare a daring escape from their captivity.
For those not familiar with the book, while the short doesn’t have enough time to get you caught up on details, the execution works well enough to get you invested in the journey. The pacing works well in moving things along and there is a solid amount of tension that builds throughout the narrative that aids in this. Simple changes in acting, editing, sound design and cinematography choices, however, could have allowed for the intense atmosphere of such a situation to sink in much further. A decent introduction for those looking to get into this series, “One Shot” makes for an entertaining watch.
“Midnight Death” (2018)
Director: Deanna Rashell
Rating: 3.5/5
Another creepy little short just in time for Halloween, “Midnight Death” tells the story of a babysitter who must fight for her life to escape the clutches of a devious mother and daughter with a taste for blood.
A better name for “Midnight Death” would probably be “Hide and Seek,” as the majority of this 11-minute venture plays out as a big game of this. Your enjoyment of the film will largely depend on how such a premise intrigues you. There is a playful darkness that keeps the film entertaining overall, with some solid cinematography that aids in this. The middle section does at times feel stretched thin and can become tedious. Similarly, the ending could have been paced better to deliver a harder hit. At the end, “Midnight Death” still makes for an atmospheric horror treat that is fun to watch.
