Shriekfest 2014 Preview – Adding to the growing trend of chat room based horror films Skypemare draws on the best of this growing sub-genre to deliver an unsettling comedic finale to a short tale that preys on all our fears. Alison (Cerina Vincent) is chatting with her best friend Jenna (Annika Marks) over Skype on Halloween night, brooding over the fact she is home alone following boyfriend troubles and consoling herself with wine and pizza. When she witnesses what she believes to be an intruder in her friend’s home events inevitably spiral with bloody and brutal results.
John Fitzpatrick has cleverly constructed a wickedly wry little tale that revels in creepy simplicity marshalled by impressively stylish direction. Skypemare enjoyably and subtly develops uncomfortable tension that builds to a brutal punch line. The performances are entirely convincing and the realism of the script gives the whole film a very natural feel.
Previous features such as the disappointing Smiley have struggled to generate the same fearful trepidation that Fitzpatrick has crammed into a fraught 8 minutes, successfully balancing the need for gory scares with bleak humour.
OVERALL SUMMARY
There is very little not to like in Skypemare. This is a truly striking short film from a writer and director who completely understands the format. Skypemare is screening in the Short Program 2 at 2.00pm on Saturday October 4th.
