Written and directed by Shane Bannon, late at night, deep in the woods, a woman cries in her car. A light flickers through the trees. At the edge of her headlights’ reach, she can just make out the shape of a man. He’s coming closer. Starring: Celina Bernstein, Kevin Owyang and Jesse Howland.
One of the key elements to a successful short film, particularly with horror, is timing, building a progression that quickly draws in your audience, grabs their attention then lands a memorable, satisfying ending. That’s exactly what you get with The Perfect Place to Cry, the story reveals itself with excellent pacing, it’s funny yet subtle and has a brilliantly dark sense of humour. It also leaves you with lots of questions but in a positive, entertaining way.
The strong writing work is then taken to another level by the sharp, tense atmosphere that Shane Bannon’s direction builds. It’s confident in the quiet, never feeling a need to rush and it pairs itself with great music choices to expand on its themes. The cinematography leans into the use of red in its colouring which has a nice sinister edge, building upon the film’s suspicious air. The overall quality of the aesthetic is superb, it grabs you as soon as it opens.
A fantastic part of its sense of humour is the performances from this small but hugely enjoyable cast. Starting with its leading lady Lyla (Celina Bernstein), looking for The Perfect Place to Cry but stumbling into someone else’s world. Bernstein quickly hits those emotional, sympathetic notes but it’s her reactions to the rest of the plot that really solidify this performance. From confusion and shock to an almost gratefulness, it’s a fun evolution to watch at work. Kevin Owyang hits some terrific comedy notes, his appearance is the cherry on top of the film but the less said the better to truly enjoy it.
The Perfect Place to Cry is entertaining, funny, cleverly written and excellently shot. It has a sharp visual quality that balances all the different tones at work, and builds a strong, captivating atmosphere. Celina Bernstein and Kevin Owyang make for an unexpected pair, having a great comedic chemistry despite almost their entire conversation taking place through a car window. It’s an exceptionally well executed short film, with a lot of talent on display.
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