-Written by Michelle Vorob.
2024 HOLLYSHORTS FILM FESTIVAL REVIEW!
Strange Creatures is a short horror film by Nicholas Payne Santos, centered around Nell (Quinn Jackson), who is searching for her brother (Sean-Michael Wilkinson).
I'm not sure how else to say it, but to say this awesome film was a major tease! I want, no, I need more. Here I am, watching this film that I can tell will be so good, so entertaining, and what felt like the introduction to Strange Creatures was actually this very brief film [less than seven minutes] in its entirety. Gather up the cast and crew and film another 90 minutes, please.
Strange Creatures hits all the criteria of an excellent horror film. An abandoned rest area in the woods, a woman alone, but you feel she's being watched, mysterious figures, weird phone calls, and jump scares. As much as I wish this was a full-length feature, I also loved how concisely the story was laid out and told. It was as if the premise was, “take a full length horror story and make it as brief as possible,” like those writing challenges that state, “tell us a complete story in three words.”
I will also say that my viewing notes came with the suggestion to watch the film with the lights off and the volume turned up and it really delivered. I've mentioned in other reviews that sometimes I've had technical issues with sound and it really affected my enjoyment of the film, so I was thrilled that Strange Creatures was able to be experienced as was intended.
I normally love to give details about the films I review and somehow, that seems odd to do for such a brief film, so I'll say the cinematography and lighting is perfect. It really set the tone for horror and suspense. The setting was great. It really felt like a creepy, abandoned stop in the woods. I mean, I know Nell went there because it was her brother's last known location, but lady, don't get out of the car! Of course, there would be no film, as we know horror often involves people going to abandoned or creepy places while we, the audience, know they could avoid whatever is about to befall them [by not going to the creepy place].
I absolutely loved Strange Creatures and highly recommend it.
Written & Directed by Nicholas Payne Santos.
Starring Quinn Jackson, Sean-Michael Wilkinson, & Christine Nyland.
9/10 = DROP EVERYTHING AND WATCH IT NOW
