FrancescaLWhite Reviews

Toll Booth (2017)

Quirky, sinister, entertaining short film

[8/10 · 24 March 2020]

'Toll Booth' by Martin Stocks is a wonderfully quirky, sinister and wholly entertaining short film. The overall darkness of the film from start to finish certainly plays tricks on your mind, and even without the wonderfully suspense-filled score, spooky dreams, unsettling stories of toll booth visitors and jump scares of the climax you're on the edge of your seat. Andrew Shire's experienced toll booth worker Terry, is a very compelling watch and you're right there with him throughout: expecting the worst, contemplating what on earth happened to the previous toll booth worker, and wondering whether his pay is worth the spine-chilling job. The comedy of the scenario is played perfectly too. Well written, well directed, well performed. Congratulations to the team involved. Would love to see this character/concept in a 'Hot Fuzz'-ian horror comedy feature.

Safekeeping (2019)

Gorgeous, emotive, well-acted short film

[9/10 · 24 March 2020]

'Safekeeping' by David Yorke is an absolutely gorgeous, emotive and well-acted short film. The cinematography is stunning, locations too. The relationship between Charlie and Jessica, played by Charlie Price and Jodie Price, real, faceted and heart-warming to watch, even with the unexpected twist climax of this film. Jessica's love, care and protection of Charlie, and who is really is rather than what he could have become, that should be cherished. Heartbreaking and heartwarming in equal measures. Great work by all involved.

Parting Gifts (2017)

Fresh, funny, poignant short film.

[8/10 · 24 March 2020]

'Parting Gifts' is a fresh, funny and poignant short. Actors Grace Parry and Cian Barry do a great job conveying the awkwardness, lingering feelings, confusion and tension of a break-up. From the highly amusing middle finger war, to Batman boxer generosity, to the final shocking 'gift'/face splatter, this is a compelling watch; I was not expecting the parting gift twist. I don't know about you, but I've certainly BEEN THERE. Great work. David Yorke, the Director/Writer appears to have a knack for finding new angles and interpretations on well-known stories/experiences: his career is definitely one to watch in the coming years.

We (IV) (2016)

Beautifully shot depiction of a wholly relatable relationship

[9/10 · 24 March 2020]

'We' by David Yorke is a beautifully shot depiction of a wholly relatable relationship. Fresh take on a story we all know after hitting puberty. No matter your gender, whether you're straight, bi-sexual or gay, the experiences shown here are relatable. Fantastic work and intimacy between leads Kim Hardy and Dimitra Barla. Stunning cinematography, perfect score. Poetic. Highly recommend.

Puppy Dog Tails (2011)

Deeply disturbing short film

[7/10 · 24 March 2020]

'Puppy Dog Tails' is a deeply disturbing short from Director and Scriptwriter James Atkins. It has a lot of scope for being turned into a feature, I believe, from the open ending. They say the imagination is far more terrifying than anything you can see on screen, but what is shown on the screen in this short... and what may have happened to poor, unsuspecting Amy Bishop played by Gemma Giubarelli while she was asleep... is absolutely petrifying. I'd like to know more about the reasons behind Georgie's voyeurism, and why she takes advantage of her mother's guest, played very creepily by Lukas Disparrow; the final switch in personality and speech definitely raised the stakes, before that moment she may have had some kind of social disorder which prevented her realising just how inappropriate she is being, just how much of a violation it is. But that switch-up in portrayal makes it even more sinister. Does Betty know her daughter is doing this? There is a lot of depth to these characters, this story-line, that could be fleshed out and I hope this team gets the chance to do so. The final song over the credits is pretty darned chilling too. Brrr. I can't say 'nice' work, but successfully disturbing work.

Ready For My Close Up (2019)

Original, entertaining, black comedy.

[7/10 · 20 March 2020]

'Ready For My Close-Up' directed by Jason Read is an original, entertaining black comedy. From Lynn Lowry's first breaking-of-the-fourth-wall as Meg Topplethwaite to her final swashbuckling moment, she's perfectly 'Meg': the retired actress on a costumed killing spree, while reminiscing about her father. A delightful and unique concept and script by Michael Haberfelner.

Oscar's Bell (2018)

Simply put: terrifying.

[9/10 · 20 March 2020]

I was fortunate to see this film on the big screen at a film festival, and it wholly engrossed every member of the audience start to finish. Setting the somewhat unnerving, though also appealing, night-time scene of a father taking his son out to the woods to reconnect and enjoy nature while the mother, unseen though heard on a phone message, conveys her worries about them being alone out there. Unfortunately for Paul Bullion's character Duncan, he begins to see and hear signs of them not being so alone. Sitting by the campfire, their gorgeous, family dog Oscar starts to demonstrate signs of an intruder of some sort creeping through the woods: barking, territorial behaviour, and he soons runs out to find it. Duncan, unsettled and only getting more so as he hears his dog's whimpers, barks and interation with whatever is out there, swiftly pulls out the rifle he has in his car. The flames of the campfire are still flickering, his son sleeping beside him, his dog out in the woods trying to protect them... Actor Bullion's palpable fear, his protective instincts, his indecision as to how to handle this situation... his performance is relatable, real and layered. Without revealing spoilers, the situation goes from bad to a heck of a lot worse.. It's extremely well shot, the suspense is perfectly created, and the performances entirely believable. As a dog lover, this film had me particularly unsettled and the final shot, with certain glowing eyes, will be burned into my retinas for a long while: terrifying. Recommended watching, just, maybe not with a dog next to you....

Giltrude's Dwelling (2019)

Fresh, fantastical, and wholly deserving to be made feature-length if not a series.

[10/10 · 20 March 2020]

I caught short film 'Giltrude's Dwelling' by director Jeremy Lutter at the Starburst International Film festival in 2020. I hadn't seen anything about the film prior, and I was honestly blown-away by it's quality, it's promise and its originality. The concept reminded me of one of my favourite book series by Ilona Andrews: The Innkeeper Chronicles, but its differences from this series only make it better. I'd love to see this short film made into a feature-length film, or a series: there's certainly enough scope and stories to be told from this premise. The fantastical house, the multiple worlds, the relationship and history between Giltrude, played by The Magician's Kacey Rohl, and her parents, played by recognisable faces Priscilla Faia and Jesse Hutch.. not to mention the life-altering consequences of Oscard's introduction, played by the fantastic young, up-and-coming Liam Hughes, in Giltrude's life... please. PLEASE, show us more! Marcy Waughtal's script and the performances have you hooked. The design of the house, it's magic and landing on other worlds, and the books with the patterns of the house's movement, the creatures out in this worlds.. the costumes, everything. It's a beautiful, magical film and I desperately want to see more. Congratulations to everyone involved! Highly, highly recommend.

Eject (2019)

Fresh, original, thought-provoking

[8/10 · 20 March 2020]

I was lucky to catch short film 'Eject' by up-and-coming director David Yorke on the big screen at Starburst International Film Festival 2020. It certainly catches the attention from the onset, though I expected a body-horror type film with the growth-scratching initially! As a bit of a scaredy-cat I was relieved to see it take a more 'The Matrix'-esque sci-fi turn. Lead Elena Saurel plays Kate, a young woman who learns she has the unexpected ability to literally reorganise her mind: become fluent in languages she hasn't thought about since French classes at school, and discard bad memories and experiences. But, in her enthuasiasm for gaining the most out of this newfound skill, she forgets the universal rules of balance and consequences. The film does A LOT in a short span of time, the cinematography and SFX are very well-done and striking, and the fresh, original and thought-provoking concept certainly promise big things to come for the team involved. Highly recommend!

The Black Gloves (2017)

Atmospheric and thought-provoking, with gut-churning suspense. Beautiful work.

[8/10 · 20 March 2020]

I recently caught 'The Black Gloves' by director Lawrie Brewster in full colour at a film festival. I'm not a huge horror fan, so I was leery at first, but you're quickly and wholly absorbed by this suspense-filled, atmospheric, dark and twisting feature. It reminded me of films by Hitchcock, and strangely 'Blood Simple' by the Coen brothers for it's style, cinematography and anti-hero characters. The cinematography is absolutely excellent, and particularly well-graded given that it was originally shot in black and white: the light streaming through the windows in the main room at the estate, and the disturbing and incredible swan/owl-possession extreme back-bend to stairway hunt are two images that firmly embedded themselves in my mind. It's haunting, dark, and decadent. The two main themes I took from this feature, both of which it deals with adeptly, are: abusive relationships and obsession. I trained in ballet since I was 2 years old, and I well-understand the competitiveness, the fact that you must effectively give over your life to pursuing this career, the negative impact it can have on your body from your joints, toe-nails to eating disorders. And then the way that teachers, spectators and even family members can feel as though they 'own' you and your talent, or that you 'owe' it to them; the way that obsession with the surface, the talent, the performance can be miscontrued as love. It is the perfect breeding ground and setting for a film such as this.The script by Sarah Daly is layered, timeless and compelling. Lorena, played by Macarena Gómez, the ballet instructor is a strict, unyielding and on-the-surface unsympathetic character whose abuses of power when it comes to 'her' dancer Elisa Grey are deeply disturbing: Lorena raised Elisa, taught her everything she could and has taken care of her since a terrible trauma apparently fractured Elisa's pysche. She seems to want Elisa to live out her own lost-dreams of greatness as a prima ballerina, and controls every aspect of Elisa's life. She also appears to have a sexual relationship with her, even though she is really her only mother & Elisa is clearly in a vulnerable, traumatised state. Gómez's intensity, her elegant, though at times terrifying, physicality and her beauty are perfect for such a complex character who actually embodies a good few of the masculine-stereotypes seen regularly in film. Alexandra Hulme's Elisa Grey is at times vulnerable, at times seemingly complicit, and at other times sensual: a real, multi-faceted woman in a terrible situation and for whom you don't see a good way out. I want to note that her ballet really is beautiful, and she clearly put as much preparation into the choreography as her character depth too; the hunt down the stair way in pointe shoes, on uneven old floor boards, is wonderfully classic & graceful yet feral and sinister at the same time. The owl God, whose appearances are terrifying, actually takes a back seat to the sinister lead characters. Even Jamie Scott Gordon's Dr Finn Galloway, who starts off appearing to want the best for, and to genuinely help Elisa. However, by the end of the film, I only felt a deep aversion to his character whose idea of 'the best for Elisa' is not actually the best for Elisa... but for his selfish wants & obsession. In summation: it's atmospheric, it's unsettling, and it's thought-provoking. I'm certain the shot of Elisa's shadowy, owl-eyed, backbend will be firmly in my nightmares for years to come. Beautiful work.

Nefarious (II) (2019)

Solid, suspenseful, and you're kept guessing throughout.

[7/10 · 20 March 2020]

I'll start with: I am not a horror fan. I usually avoid it as I am a bit of a scaredy-cat and have had some experiences in the real world that keep me farrr away from horror films. That being said, I decided to go against my normal instincts and give 'Nefarious' a whirl at a film festival as I'd seen a promo for it and it caught my attention. I'm very glad I did: it's gritty, original, suspenseful, and full of surprises. Nadia Lamin as Lou and Toby Wynn-Davies as Marcus particularly gripping on screen, though the team of actors as a whole are solid & characters have depths; I felt so sorry for Clive, played by Gregory A. Smith. There is an especially gory scene that had a good few of us audience members turning away it was so effectively done, one shot involving a blade by an ear that really had my stomach turning! I especially liked the darkness and monochrome colour palette of the police investigation scenes, a choice clearly reflecting how they see the world and the characters they're interviewing. In summary: it's good, you're kept guessing throughout, and it's definitely worth a watch.

Kindred (II) (2019)

It's gripping, it's funny, and there's a completely unexpected twist.

[9/10 · 20 March 2020]

I caught this short at a film festival, and I was gripped start to finish. The cinematography is stellar, the performances wholly believeable and location striking. I was expecting a thriller and found it surprisingly funny too. As someone who is lucky to have a close friendship with my siblings, I well recognised the camaraderie, banter and apparently good relationship between the brothers played by Andrew Lee Potts & Joseph Millson. The quips about the Potts' character being a "digital dick" & bits like Millson's character locking the car door so that Potts has to follow along definitely made me laugh. Their love for each other is evident, even with all the fact that they haven't seen each other in a while, their seemingly different attitudes to their father, and the negative goings on in their lives and disappointment in themselves for their mistakes; it's tangible, real and relatable. Without revealing any spoilers: I was completely blindsided by the final twist. I could palably feel the final devastation of Millson's character after realising it was all for naught. Very well executed, high quality short film, I do recommend a watch.

Star Wars: Origins (2019)

Nostalgic, epic excellence.

[9/10 · 20 March 2020]

'Star Wars: Origins' by Phil Hawkins is hard proof that short films can be just as high quality, epic in scale & attention grabbing as feature length films. From the stunning colour palette, the John Williams-esque score, the brutal & incomparable location of the Sahara, the gorgeous 'Star Wars' blockbuster rivalling cinematography, and evocative, poignant script. I was fortunate to catch this film on the big screen at a film festival and it was my favourite film of the festival. The sheer amount of detail in every single shot, incredible. This team fully deserves the praise it's earning, and the blood, sweat and tears were certainly worth it. I'm a bit of a sci-fi nerd, so I loved every 'easter egg', every nod to films like: 'Star Trek', 'The Mummy', 'Jurassic Park' and 'Indiana Jones' as well as the Star Wars Universe itself. My personal favourite shot being the 'origin' of the scrolling text, so well-known from the series, referenced in a similarly moving close-up of a beautifully drawn, hand written journal. The 'cave'/'pyramid' artwork & candles flickering is another personal love; this film is aesthetically pleasing as the story is moving emotionally & wistful. Highly recommend a watch! Nostalgic, epic excellence.

I Love My Mum (2018)

I will never again complain about my mum

[7/10 · 10 July 2019]

Yikes, I will never again complain about my mum after watching 'I Love My Mum' by Alberto Sciamma. Hilarious, unpredictable, chaos personified = Olga. Very well played by Kierston Wareing. Gorgeous cinematography & locations which gave me the travel bug. Poor Ron: the swelling music as he has his moment & Olga runs behind completely cracked me up 🤣. Great work cast and crew!

Black Site (2018)

Modern-day Mythological Magnificence

[8/10 · 19 April 2019]

(REVIEW BASED ON TEST SCREENING FROM STARBURST MEDIA CITY FILM FESTIVAL 2018)

First off, I should say I haven't yet seen the officially released film and my review is based on the test screening from Starburst Media City Film Festival, so some things may be different to the film as it is now. That being said I think Tom Paton, George Burt and Samantha Schnitzler, and really the entire team of the cast and crew, are incredibly talented and have created a magnificent modern day mythological baby. I'm a big lover of fantasy: 'American Gods', 'His Dark Materials', 'Lord of the Rings' are among my personal favourites. This film brings elements of all these into a fresh and original story which is enjoyable from start to finish. The action choreography, the VFX/SFX and cinematography all particularly struck me. Kris Johnson's portrayal of Erebus is extremely powerful and haunting. What these filmmakers have done with a relatively low budget is staggering and I look forward to seeing their upcoming projects. To end: I thoroughly recommend.

Redwood (2017)

Enthralling Horror

[8/10 · 27 March 2018]

An enthralling horror written and directed by the extremely talented Tom Paton following troubled couple Josh, adeptly played by up and comer Mike Beckingham, and Beth, convincingly portrayed by Tatjana Nardone. The 'Redwood' forest, a beautiful location is wonderfully captured by cinematographers George Burt and Mike Stern Sterzynski: I was a particular fan of the overhead shots really emphasising the grandure of the forest and how tiny and out of depth the characters were. The intense tent scenes with torch light cutting through the shots were gorgeous too. I was gripped from the very first scene, and thoroughly enjoyed the score which reminded me of episode 'The I In Team' from Buffy The Vampire Slayer's fourth season which - given Nicholas Brendon's portrayal as 'Animal Ranger' Vincent and the forest's main inhabitants - was particularly apt. I wholeheartedly believed their relationship and the particular scene in which they go from discussing Josh's "life-altering cancer" to Beth's demand that he "paint the spare room" was a favourite. SPOILER: I confess I did suspect the final revelation/twist simply as Josh so clearly couldn't handle this diagnosis, failing health and strength: repeated "man points" comments, a scene in which he breaks down after a coughing fit and hacks away at a branch, and his reluctance to discuss child names with his girlfriend and make future plans. However, my enjoyment of the film didn't suffer for this whatsoever. I recommend you buy a copy stat, you really can't tell it's an independent film! I look forward to seeing what next comes from this talented cast and crew. Expect big things.

Charismata (2017)

Brilliant

[8/10 · 18 March 2018]

I don't normally enjoy horror as I have a very vivid imagination but I took a chance on 'Charismata' by Andy Collier and Tor Mian knowing full well I'd probably be signing up for nightmares for a couple of weeks after...! It's an intensely thought-provoking and unsettling film. I caught it at Starburst Media City Film festival and every single facet is brilliant. Sarah Beck Mather deserves every single award she has won as Rebecca Faraway; she is simply riveting to watch and gives a nuanced and complex portrayal of a woman struggling to keep what's real and what is her fraying mind playing tricks on her separate. Jamie Sattherthwaite is perfect as Mr Sweet the main suspect of Rebecca's investigations into a series of grisly murders. The line "It's as bloody as a virgin on her period after a gang bang" by one of the medical examiners early on in the film sets the scene perfectly. Eli Smith played by Adonis Anthony is very easy to dislike with his constant badgering and dismissal of everything poor Rebecca does, and the rest of the police force/investigative team aren't much better. You can certainly understand how that every day would drain on her. The scene at the pharmacy is a perfect microcosm of her life battering away at her mental defences; the female pharmicist's bitchy final remark the icing on the cake. The cinematography is gorgeous throughout - my personal favourite scene being the initial questioning of Mr Sweet in which his repetition of 'No' as though he is completely unconcerned about his situation, the smug look on his face and leading on to the shot of him through the glass with the detectives reflections surrounding him. Gripping. The score was fantastic at ratcheting up the suspense and eerieness too. The only thing I didn't particularly like was the final VFX shot of Faraway's body heat. I was left reeling after the final scene, and questioning what was real and what wasn't in much the same way I was for 'Inception' by Christopher Nolan. I highly recommend you watch it. Brilliant work by everyone involved!

Hangman (II) (2018)

Unsettling yet sometimes darkly comical

[7/10 · 27 February 2018]

Liam Thomas Burke's unsettling yet sometimes darkly comical 'Hangman' is certain to get under the skin of many. Sharp quips, fingers popping up in cups o' tea and extremely creepy humming by lead antagonist Ben Manning (Hangman himself) are sure to remain in your mind long after viewing. Great shot composition though the particular screening I saw did have a bit of a problem with pixellating at times (possibly just an issue on that particular screening). I think all involved should be proud of their work here and sincerely hope it is received well; many talented people in both the cast and crew. I would definitely watch a sequel!

Cannibals and Carpet Fitters (2017)

Bloody brilliance!

[10/10 · 10 November 2017]

'Cannibals & Carpet Fitters' by James Bushe & Richard Lee O'Donnell is utterly hilarious, wonderfully unpredictable & overall bloody brilliant! I'd pitch it as 'Home Alone' for Adults meets 'Shaun of the Dead'. From the first head splitting at the dinner table to the village cannibal encounter the film has you wholly absorbed. While it deals with certain overly used horror tropes it still managed to surprise and crack me up with laughter. Quality performances, quality writing, quality cinematography & score; if you watched this without knowing it's an independent film you would never be able to guess it, what they achieve on a relatively low budget is mind-blowing. Comedy horror genius!