Movie Review: Familiar
By William Pattison, aka Eric Morse
For The Horror Bob Blog
As
a reviewer, I rarely do reviews on short films. I mean, after all,
usually these films only get limited
festival runs and rarely get put on DVD, except when they’re jammed
in with a mix of other short films both good and bad, in compilation
editions. But, when producer Zach Green contacted me on
Facebook and asked me to check out his latest short film, Familiar,
and do the review, I thought why not. I was pleasantly surprised.
Writer/director
Richard Powell’s short film, Familiar, tells the story of John Dodd,
who appears at first
as a middle aged man who is going through a mid-life crisis and
hates his family and his life. We get this idea because we hear a
voiceover that from the start of the film says critical and
negative observations about John’s life. Supposedly, John wants his
freedom. Unfortunately, we find out that his wife, Charlotte, is
pregnant. The voice, which we assume, is John’s thoughts
convince John that his wife, who already has a teenaged daughter by
him, is trying to further imprison him with this unborn child. We see
John as he end the pregnancy by spiking his wife’s food
with abortion drugs. After his wife loses the baby she suggests they
try again. It is at this point that we find out that the voiceover
isn’t John but something else. The voice tries to convince
John to overdose his wife, but John refuses. But, what is this
voice? Does John have a split personality? Is it simply John’s negative
side expressing its self? The truth we find is much
more horrifying and leads to a very bloody ending.
This
film is well written and well acted. John Nolan gives an excellent
performance as John Dodd and as
the voice of the other. The FX for the final reveal is top rate and
definitely provides the payoff. If you like good characterization, an
intriguing plot twist, and bloody gore you will not be
disappointed.
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