Nefarious Films
short films review
hayfever
By anthony carpendale & beki laws
Review by Matt Compton
Running time: 2 mins (approx)
Where to see it: http://www.subcentral.co.uk
Remember that scene in the first Evil Dead film where the girl is attacked and um...violated by the possessed trees? Well this little quickie by Brighton-based film maker Anthony Carpendale is basically little more than an English homage to that infamous sequence.
This is by no means a bad thing, it is a nicely put together fun little piece which works well with a script which is no more complicated than, 'girl gets attacked by plants whilst gardening'. More an affectionate mockery of horror conventions than horror itself this film keeps its tongue in its cheek and is all the better for it.
Despite the inherent silliness of the premise and the less than serious way it is treated there is some quality film making here. The effects of the plants attacking are surprisingly well done in a very schlocky way which actually achieves the same look as the effects in the sequence that inspired it. The shots are interesting and create an atmosphere of danger and impending doom in the idyllic garden the film is set in. The close ups of common garden sights like ladybirds mating or flowers swaying in the wind give their subjects a fun but silly sense of malevolence.
Hayfever is a charming and unusual short which, while far from horrifying, is certainly entertaining.
RATING:
