A Special Edition of Our Weekly Short Film Review
The twentieth edition of Small Films is a very fun and special one. This is not just another presentation of a single short film. We are highlighting a Shudder feature consisting of 9 genre films directed by women. It is the Etheria Film Night 2024.
Etheria Film Night is dedicated to showcasing genre films directed by women. Co-founded by journalist/writer Heidi Honeycutt, Stacy Pippi Hammon, and Kayley Viteo, Viscera Film Festival staff members in 2014. The first festival premiered Rose McGowan’s directorial debut, Dawn, at The Egyptian Theatre in Hollywood, California. A few other notable alumni include Prano Bailey-Bond (Censor), Chloe Alexandra Ocuno (Watcher), and Gigi Saul Guerrero (Into the Dark).
Here are the films featured in this special:
Tooth
Directed by: Jillian Corsie
A revenge tale about a tooth taking matters into its own hands. Here is a fun body horror short featuring animated teeth avenging abuse.
The Thaw
Directed by: Sean Temple, Sarah Wisner
My favorite, The Thaw, is a beautiful, eerie, and atmospheric 16-minute short about a family in 19th-century Vermont. The young woman’s parents drink sleeping tea to pass the cold winter. An early thaw will cause devastating consequences. If you like Robert Eggers’ take on 19th-century New England, this one’s for you.
1 in the Chamber
Directed by: Annie Girard, Diana Wright
In this dark comedy, Mary Elizabeth Ellis is an assassin sent to “take care” of a former assassin who turns out to be pregnant. Their fight in a baby-proofing room is both cute and hilarious. This violent film about motherhood is terrific.
Ten of Swords
Directed by: Faye Jackson
The zombie film from this year’s Etheria selections is about what Jeff Bezos would do if zombies existed.
Ride Baby Ride
Directed by: Sofie Somoroff
Imagine if the lovemaking with a car in Titane wasn’t reciprocal. That’s Ride Baby Ride, an allegory to rape.
Make Me a Pizza
Directed by: Talia Shea Levin
What if Marilyn Chambers did a pizza movie with David Cronenberg instead of Rabid? It’s what it sounds like, a body horror film with a porn plot about pizza. It’s weird, wicked, and amusing.
The Shadow Wrangler
Directed by: Grace Rex
A film about the downside of working from home. The audiobook narrator gets constantly interrupted by construction workers and her ex. Her WFH job? Narrating an erotic novel, pretty much the ones that we used to find on Supermarket shelves. The novel visualizes like a Paul Morrisey movie in her mind. It’s beautiful and bewildering.
Inked
Directed by: Kelsey Bollig
All these shorts are so great, and everyone involved is destined for exciting things. Kelsey Bollig’s Inked is no exception. It’s one that I’d like to see turned into a full-length. There is a lot that can be done with the tattooed ashes premise. In the meantime, enjoy this fine short.
MLM
Directed by: Brea Grant
Brea Grunt’s stylish short reminded me of when I joined a knife seller’s MLM 20 years ago. Once you’re there, you can’t get out. Either way, you’re cursed. This anthology closes with an exciting short featuring a cameo from cult legend Barbara Crampton.
