Directed by Christopher Alan Broadstone
USA/ 2002/ 13minutes
Colour
Review by Carl T. Ford
Proving that the horror film genre still has plenty of life in it comes Christopher Alan Broadstone’s 13-minute short, MY SKIN, which like his former short SCREAM FOR ME deals with the taboo of death in an enterprising way. Death (Tony Simmons) has flown into a city office, and perches carrion-like with beaked bird-mask before the asphyxiated corpse of Cindy (Lisa Montague) murdered by her husband George, who has fabricated details of the crime in order to lead the police on a goose chase. Removing the bird mask used as to disguise himself as he soars against the moonlight, Death (appearing as a cross between Brando’s Colonel Kurtz and Max Shreck’s Graf Von Orlock) opens his ledger. Inside are listed the names, birth and death dates of all humanity; a meticulously planned balance book designed to ensure the growth of mankind is kept in check. The cadaverous index scans the page; it would appear that events have conspired to cheat him, for the deceased was due to die of natural causes 64 years later. Assembling details of the murder, gleaned from a supernatural surveillance of the crime-scene, the grim figure decides to phone the killer, and manipulate the crime evidence to his advantage.
Broadstone once more displays the dark, surreal, minimalist look with this creepy tale that is reminiscent of those old EC horror comic strips - though this one has a restrained ending - with the director favouring style and atmosphere over the gratuitous violence that marked his directorial debut SCREAM FOR ME. The camerawork is pretty captivating, hardly standing still for more than a few seconds, shooting between close-ups of the battered corpse of Cindy before sweeping in for a close up of the gnarled features of Death, spiralling around as we follow the pen-strokes of a pretty bizarre piece of prose written in a circular pattern, and peering at us through a gun barrel.
The make-up crew have done a good job here, with Tony Simmons appearing almost unrecognisable from the sadistic killer he portrayed in SCREAM FOR ME. His menacing gaze, claw-like mannerisms, and death-head mask really do strike an imposing figure, and recalls the paintings of Hieronymous Bosch, in which bird-headed demons would devour the souls of the damned. Simmons is near perfect for the part, and he really ought to get more acting opportunities.
In all, an atmospheric and stylish addition to the independent film market, which should do wonders for the CVs of all those concerned, and which should be seen by all serious horror fans.
Carl T. Ford
http://www.unrated.co.uk/reviews.htm#82
SCREAM FOR ME
Directed by Christopher Alan Broadstone
USA/ 2000/ 22 minutes
Colour
Review by Carl T. Ford
Unable to cope with the untimely death of his parents, gunned down by a burglar, young Garrott Druck develops a fascination with the possibility of an afterlife, fuelled by a fear of the unknown and a total lacking of control over ones fate. Having strangled his sister, in order to try to establish whether screams come as a result of the fear of pain, or from facing death? Druck has become a serial killer.
SCREAM FOR ME begins with Druck (Gabriel Sigal) astride the battered form of Irene (Lora Cunningham). Irene is being slowly throttled, but is unable to scream due to a combination of paralysis and indifference as she figures she will die anyway. Druck savagely beats her in an attempt to extract the cries he has grown fixated with. By eliciting control over his victims whilst in the throes of death, Druck believes he can gain the upper hand over the forces that lay beyond life, and when the time comes, face his nemesis with a sense of power knowing that the ultimate dread comes not from death but from physical pain suffered prior to one’s passing. Druck kills Irene before she screams, and the noises caused by his anguish at being cheated alert the neighbour.
Unfortunately for Druck he is due a rude awakening, unknown to him Irene’s neighbour is an equally demented soul known as ‘Madman’ (Tony Simmons) who was planning to attack the woman himself. When he stumbles upon the murder scene, and feeling cheated himself (he planned to rape Irene), he dishes out his own form of divine retribution, in a scene which is not for the faint hearted.
This is one amazing cinematic assault on the senses. Director Christopher Alan Broadstone utilises both sound and visuals to create a terrifying scenario. Our ears are besieged from screeching emissions of an upturned television in Irene’s room, and her gurgling chokes, to the violent breakages caused by Madman’s entrance (to both inanimate and animate forms). Whilst the eyes are threatened by rapidly executed scenes of physical violence, involving punches, stabbing, and sexual assault.
Accompanied by a frenzied industrial soundtrack courtesy of Ugly Mustard, excellent cinematography by Stewart M. Eastham (that makes the very best use of primary colour filters), and some rapid editing involving black and white footage, Broadstone has crafted an impressive piece of horror. Stylistically SCREAM FOR ME is in a similar vein to the work of Mitch Davis (SUBCONSCIOUS CRUELTY, and GOD’S LITTLE GIRL) with its first person narrative, themes of death and beyond, brilliant colour filters accentuated by minimal lighting, claustrophobic camera, and rapid editing techniques. Nevertheless, Broadstone’s film is definitely worthy of recognition in its own right; the scripting is impressive and so it comes as no surprise to learn that the director has just completed his first novel PUZZLEMAN. Until that surfaces, pick up this splendid DVD presentation.
Carl T. Ford
http://www.unrated.co.uk/reviews.htm#81