Writer’s Block | Vito Milazzo, 2015
- Reviewed by Luke Compton
Writer’s Block is a hilarious and exceptionally well written short about a screenwriter whose titular trouble has a dramatic impact on his psyche. It’s genre-bending and unafraid to tackle various themes and tones in the 17 minute duration. It’s comedic, and yet, later disturbing twists and turns enter the narrative. A genre hybrid, it’s a sly interpretation of a problem all writers go through, offering a fictionalised and hyperbolic representation. The tackling of mental health is brilliantly realised, and the filmic elements are fantastic. A work that blurs the line between the real and the surreal, it certainly offers surprises that have the ability to channel various tones.
Empty Space | Philip Coleman, 2014
- Reviewed by Anna Richards
Empty Space is written and directed by Philip Coleman, created as part of his Masters dissertation project at Bangor University. The film is an impressive low budget science fiction short that sees two lovers leave the planet in an escape pod; one of them forced to make a desperate decision for survival. Considering the nature of this short, Coleman splendidly creates an uncomfortable sense of claustrophobia, adding a great realism. Equally, the use of a non-linear narrative creates a powerful origin to the main leads.
Scottish Kids are Haunted | Chay Milne, 2015
- Reviewed by Ryan Keen
Filmmaker Chay Milne brings us into a terrifying world with this fantastical horror about a young boy, Mac (Mac Milne), who searches for the demons in the woods of real Scotland. Combining petrifying animation with a dark underlying score, Haunted is not for the easily scared. Contrarily, the score and visceral shots of the countryside promotes the beauty of Milne’s world. Whilst it’s easy to get caught up in this beauty, however, Mac’s camera captures the roaming demons, illustrating the horrors that Milne so perfectly brings to life.
For more information on Indie-Lincs 2016, including information on scheduled screenings, special events, film descriptions, awards, and tickets; check out our Indie-Lincs article or visit the Indie-Lincs website.
Eyes on Screen 