When it comes to audio, this movie did a lot to enhance the horror-movie feel. There were some great sound effects like a creaking gate, or the sputtering water hose that the father is found squeezing tightly – not only does it sound creepy, but it’s a great indication of his potential involvement in the murder!
The music was also great. There was a good variety of different pieces that changed with each scene. The consistent score didn’t overwhelm the movie, as can sometimes happen, but in this case it only served to enhance the mood.
The film’s $4,500 budget was spent on equipment, location and permit fees, lighting, Kraft services, and festival application fees. The entire film was shot in two weekends and everyone worked without pay. The price seems about right for shooting in Los Angeles, although the issues with the film’s structure and visual should have been addressed, whether with better pre-production planning or more equipment checks to ensure that the nighttime shots looked good.
Ambrose Bierce was a very skilled writer, and his stories are perfect for directors looking to tackle a short film. I was very glad to hear that these filmmakers wanted to keep as close to the original story as possible, as it certainly is both creepy and creative.
The biggest issue, however, is that the adaptation is still a little confusing, and the audience might find themselves having to refer to the story for clarification. That may have been the point of the film, but it still ought to stand on its own. The film’s few visual issues distract from it as well; they should all be adding to the overall atmosphere, but the low lighting and poor white balance serve as distractions.
There are few things better for a microfilmmaker than a public domain story – of course one has to do the work and research to find a good one, which many people aren’t willing to do. Major kudos to these filmmakers for not only finding a good story, but putting in the work to faithfully adapt it to film!
