Nazar (16.34) Director: Kaljeven Singh Lally<\/p>\n
A diorama\/animated opening sequence leads into a lunch where Harbir (Tajinder Singh) is at odds with Ben (Michael MacLeod). A man who doesn\u2019t share his respect of his Sikh religious beliefs. Ben is more concerned with the material world and what it has to offer him. It\u2019s a lack of respect that costs him dear and into Harbir\u2019s hands.<\/p>\n
The core of the film is respect for others\u2019 beliefs irrespective of your own cynicism and prejudice. It\u2019s not much to ask. However that is not immediate and Lally dresses the story with some strong visuals that at times are difficult to tally with the overall story. Nevertheless, taken as viewed they work well in this interesting and original short film.<\/p>\n
3\/5<\/p>\n
A Hand to Hold (14.55) Director: Philip Clyde-Smith<\/p>\n
An elderly couple Moira (Frances Barber) and Patrick (Murray McArthur) are playing chess. Patrick is very ill with a morphine drip and doesn\u2019t see the game out. He dies the next morning the grieving Moira holding his hand and then finds that she can\u2019t let go. Assured by the doctor that its rigor mortis however later desperate measures are required to remove the hand. Which is only the start of the problems for Moira the bizarre family and people who turn up to help.<\/p>\n
This horror comedy couldn\u2019t be tighter both visually and writing. There\u2019s not a spare second as Clyde-Smith takes the viewer through rang of horror tropes using pitch black humour combining deadpan and gore. There is a message in the film just not on the nose and beautifully integrated within the mayhem.<\/p>\n
4\/5<\/p>\n
The Trick (4.39) Directors: Matt Fitch, Chris Baker<\/p>\n
Its closing time in a pub and there\u2019s one customer (Rowan Polanski) left. Rita (Jennie Eggleton) reminds him of the time only for his empty glass to \u2018magically\u2019 refill. Rita remains unconvinced about the reality of magic even as the card tricks become more elaborate eventually taking Rita in.<\/p>\n
Over its very short duration Fitch and Baker baffle and develop dread to a conclusion that may appear a little cruel. The film did vaguely remind me of an old Warren Mitchell programmer, Where Has Poor Mickey Gone? (1964) though The Trick doesn\u2019t have the former\u2019s dubious moral base for revenge. There is certainly an element of spite at play here though its more about convincing the sceptical than outright malevolence.<\/p>\n
4\/5<\/p>\n
Plastic Surgery (12.02) Director: Guy Trevellyan<\/p>\n
It\u2019s her last day before maternity leave and Dr Terra (Anna Popplewell) is keen to be off. However her last shift turns into a nightmare as she deals with a very strange and disturbing case. One that proves to be far from unique and rapidly begins to overwhelm her and her colleagues.<\/p>\n
This is body horror with a message as the cases come in ever more bizarre and difficult to deal with. That together with the hospital staffs\u2019 knowledge that they are not immune from what is happening to their patients.
Trevellyan uses slick and pacey direction to build tension and doesn\u2019t back away from outright horror. Some may find this film overly didactic (if not patronising) especially at the end when the dangers of microplastics are laid bare when it is fairly obvious as the film develops what the issue is. <\/p>\n
3\/5<\/p>\n<\/div>\n