Not every picks a winner, not every flick entertains. So is the case with The Lone Piper, in which a group of 1700’s Scottish soldiers use a piper boy as bait for a monster. It’s a case of “Whose the real monster?” and is done is such an artsy, boring way I thought I missed something first time through and watched it a second time with subtitles.

At roughly nine minutes, it’s not much out of my life. It’s well acted, well shot. Preachy. And, quite frankly, I like a little Horror in my Horror shorts.

Meanwhile, take There’s a Man in The Woods. It’s a four minute cartoon about a bratty kid who’s lie ruins a teacher’s career. I’ve watched this short multiple times (even for this site). It develops it’s characters efficiently, it builds tension, and all in all does more time in it’s brief run that The Lone Piper.

Simple story. No showing off, with every shot mattering. Classic.

A late night gas station gets some bad custom.

This short does remarkably well developing it’s characters. It doesn’t wear out its welcome. Had I a worry going it, it was Paulie Shore, an actor I don’t care for. However, while playing a character that seems most like the others he’s played, he does a great job building up sympathy.

Most entertaining.

That’s probably too many Roman numerals for a title…

Anyway.

Two students working on a school project find an old book with drawings in it. This drawings lead them to a haunted location.

And, as this is found footage, you know the rest.

This is a really well made flick, done by the very stars of the show. It builds its atmosphere, the acting is good, and the story, though limited, is very good.

It’s also like a dozen other found footage flicks, but that doesn’t matter. It’s a good representative of the subgenre and at a meager 46+ minutes it doesn’t wear out its welcome.

Running short on time today, so I watched an animated short of an Edgar Allan Poe classic.

Not the first time I’ve done this.

All in all an exceptional short. Decent animation done in the proper moody sort of way. Fine music. I have quibbles about the adaptation, but that’s all they are: quibbles.

What nails this cartoon down, what really seals the deal, is the acting. The whole thing, narration and character work, was done by that little known thespian named Sir Christopher Lee.

I of course kid.

Growing up I was never impressed with Lee’s performances, considering him a one note sort. I have learned better as I’ve grown up, and this short is an excellent example of him at his craft. He sells the work and completes its success.

Hell, drop the animation and just listen to him. The man was a genius.

That’s Not Me

This short isn’t even two minutes. Strange things happen to a woman preparing for bed. That’s it. No dialogue and no explanation for what goes on.

It’s very good. It’d rate it up there with 2AM: The Smiling Man for over all creepy factor. Worth seeking out on You Tube.

Puzzle

I swear there’s no theme here, but after prepping for bed strange things start happening to a woman. That’s it. No dialogue and no explanation for what goes on.

This doesn’t have the punch That’s Not Me has, but it’s very good, too. Subtle. It’s also over twice as long as the previous film. So if you have a short attention span….

I may or may not have taken the day off for making a buffer for the sister site. As this was Friday the 13^th it seemed appropriate to watch the movie. I have it as a Golden Oldie that hasn’t been reposted and I’ve been delaying it because a.) my thoughts on the movie have changed since writing it and b.) I wanted a rewatched because of the former reason. Rewatch accomplished, I’m thinking of rewriting everything except maybe the Viewing Thoughts section. Then it gets a repost. Maybe on the next Friday the 13^th.

This is, of course, the original film and not the remake. While I didn’t hate that sucker I never had the calling to watch it again. Which is, of course, telling.

I watched several other short flicks today to make up for the potential day off. All three are on YouTube.

THE OTHER SIDE OF THE BOX

A man brings over a box for his estranged friend.

One of the problems I had last year watching shorts was how similar they all seemed to be. This one takes its premise and runs with it. Very good work, with good acting. Sort of wish I watched it last year instead of the questionable one I did watch.

The Chair

A young man brings home the wrong chair.

Our previous flick had rules behind it’s supernatural and played with them more or less fair. This one has no such grounding. It’s a chaotic plot where the viewer isn’t quite sure what’s going on. Which, considering that’s exactly what our protagonist is feeling, is just fine. Great little flick. Might have been the best of the night, in fact, had it not been for…

Stalled

A jerk of a business man finds himself trapped in a time paradox.

This isn’t Horror at all, but it’s too much fun not to mention. You’re left with some questions at the end, but all in all a good time is had. If you can only watch one of these shorts, make it this one.