VOD of the Dead - JUDY (2022)
Show of hands, how many of you reading this regularly watch horror shorts? Sure, I can’t see how many of you are raising your hand, but I feel pretty safe to say that it’s not a lot of you…and I’m as guilty as you all are. There are many reasons for this, and I think the primary one is awareness. Short films, particularly short horror films, are not marketed to the masses; most horror fans find shorts by way of YouTube. Channels like CRYPT TV and NO SLEEP CHANNEL (see our interview with NO SLEEP CHANNEL’s ISSAC RODRIGUEZ HERE) have done a great job of shining lights on horror shorts for years, and yet, they seldom get the showing of support that their feature-length peers receive. While I certainly don’t watch as many of the short-form horror flicks as I could, they are great entry points for independent filmmakers to show their craft. One such independent filmmaker is RENE RIVAS, an old friend from Tucson, AZ who recently released his crowdfunded short JUDY. In partnership with WOMP STOMP FILMS, the folks behind the NEVER HIKE ALONE series of F13 fan-films, they have put together a 28-minute short that is as diabolically fun as it is technically impressive
WHAT’S IT ABOUT?
On the eve of her wedding, JUDY feels lost. Although happy to be engaged to her supportive and charming fiancé, PETER, she can't help but feel hidden in the shadow of his success. As she longs for a deeper meaning to her life, Judy's prayers are answered when a dark force calls out to her that night in her dreams. With a renewed sense of purpose, Judy proceeds down a new frightening path and embraces a change that will cost her everything she has ever known.
HOW IS IT?
Full disclosure, and in the spirit of transparency, I am a backer of JUDY’s Indigogo campaign and as mentioned in the introduction I know the filmmaker behind it. I share this because I want to present an objective review of the film while also acknowledging that it’s not easy to be objective when you are personally connected to something. All of this said, I fucking loved JUDY.
One of the first things that stand out about JUDY is that you can tell it is made by someone who clearly loves horror movies. From the opening scene to some of the visual references JUDY is a veritable “I Spy” for horror fans. While this kind of homage can sometimes feel forced, in JUDY it is as if all of these inspirations were pulled together to create something uniquely different while also being iconically familiar. The influences of both classic and modern horror films are on full display here, embedded into the aesthetic and narrative in ways that keep the viewer engaged without becoming eye-rolling. These visual references never distract, and layered on top of them is a score that beckons to be listened to at maximum volume in the darkest of theaters. The synthy score captures that unique 70s horror sound, with some added flairs of heavy metal. It’s a delight to see and hear JUDY, and it’s made even better by some really well-done practical effects that round out the back half of the film. It’s always inspiring to see what indie filmmakers can do with small budgets, especially those who favor more make-up-based and practical effects over the simplicity that CGI can offer.
LAST RITES
JUDY is a fun horror short that pays visual and auditory homage to a wide range of genre films while weaving a unique tale that stands on its own in a beautiful and bloody way!
THE GORY DETAILS
Directed By
Written By
Starring
Where can you watch it?
JUDY is currently available to its crowdfunded backers and is making its way through film festivals around the world!
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