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Review by: Travis J. Hill
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MY SKIN/ SCREAM FOR ME Double Feature DVD
Written and Directed by Christopher Alan Broadstone.
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MY SKIN (13 min)
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The Pitch
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A noir/revenge spin on Final Destination.
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The Humans
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Tony Simmons
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The Nutshell
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My absolute fave (and tightest) of all 3 shorts and viewable (and highly rewatchable) here, My Skin is a cautionary tale, warning killers about the price for stepping on the Grim Reaper’s talons. I love the spartan and stylish production design, the great camera-work, and the way that the main character is showcased (from the costume to his mode of arrival/departure). Simmons is a bonafide presence, with a face made for horror and his odd, deliberate movements. Death is mocking, yet meticulous, and truly not to f**ked with.
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SCREAM FOR ME (22 min)
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The Pitch
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The Devil’s Rejects “spoon” with Deliverance.
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The Humans
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Tony Simmons (didn’t even recognize him), Gabriel Sigal, Lora Cunningham
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The Nutshell
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What happens when a serial killer and serial rapist have their eye on the same victim? Scream for Me sounds like the recipe for a sadistic sitcom, but I assure you the wacky neighbor in this raw and squirmy film is no Mr. Furley. Torture porn is not my cup o’ tea at all, but Broadstone has constructed an explosive, brutal (and ironic) tale… and proof that duct tape is the solution to any problem.
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HUMAN NO MORE (Bonus short, 17 min)
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The Pitch
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A bite-sized End of Days.
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The Humans
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Tony Simmons (Again! This guy is a chameleon…)
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The Nutshell
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Although I absolutely love the sub-genre and the obvious potential here, I believe Human No More, a Lovecraft/Barker-inspired (IMO) religious examination of despair and grief, is the weakest of the bunch. The last-will-&-testament/confession presentation is appropriate, sometimes repetitive and a tad enigmatically poetic for its own good, but interesting nonetheless. Evil permeates (and possibly influences) throughout the piece as a detective struggles with “heartache” and an inability to prevent, avenge, or cope with a devilish tragedy.
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The Package
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Self-distributed, I’m sure, the DVD I have here adequately lets the cinema within speak for itself. I’d love to see some insight from a Broadstone or Simmons interview or commentary, but you’ll just have to settle for photo galleries, trailers, and a Scream for Me featurette that is more like a blooper/rehearsal reel and not, unfortunately, an informative behind-the-scenes piece. Sight and sound are fairly good quality and don’t detract at all from the viewing enjoyment, despite the low-budget limitations.
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The Lowdown
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These award-winning short films (in reality a Triple Feature) really surprised me. I requested to review this based on My Skin’s trailer alone, but had no idea that I would be pulled in by their atmosphere and craftsmanship so quickly. I wanted to be careful in my review/s to not reveal too much about the plots themselves because of their brevity and intensity, but I have to state that Christopher Alan Broadstone (the “C.A.B.” in Black Cab Productions, maybe?) is someone to watch out for. His use of color, lighting, editing, camera angle & composition shines above the average amateur horror “film-maker”. He didn’t just decide to make a crappy zombie or slasher flick on the weekends with his drunk buddies and a camcorder. These 3 shorts show a deliberate care and a gifted artistic eye. His attention to detail, interesting sound-scapes, and well-deserved trust in the versatile Tony Simmons have produced a disturbing variety of true horror. With his grasp on madness and the dark side of humanity, I’d love to see Broadstone tackle a Lovecraft adaptation. While I don’t always like the type of horror he has on display here (particularly Scream for Me), if this writer/director is given a feature-sized budget and the freedom to cast Simmons’ gritty mug, I’ll surely give it a more-than-curious chance. Don’t believe me? Order the DVD and see for yourself. At the very least, watch My Skin for free.
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