Written and directed by Kaz Ps, when Amalia, a devoted death doula, arrives at the home of her new clients, she immediately begins to feel that something is very wrong. Starring: Tracie Thoms, Jenny O’Hara and Stefanie Estes.
A Good Death gives a strong first impression of being made by filmmakers who have spent time appreciating horror cinema. The location, the tone, the atmosphere, the way that it moves, all of the choices going into the making of this short will be satisfying to watch for any horror fan. Particularly in how Kaz Ps chooses her shots because there’s almost a curved edge to the lens, it’s altering the perspective just slightly to add a spooky, ominous edge. It’s a subtle touch but elevates the visual to create a gradually building darkness.
There’s a great amount of foreshadowing and hints along the way to create a foundation for something strange and eerie. Creating that type of atmosphere is always boosted by the quality of the aesthetic, so the sharpness and detail to Adrian Peng Correia’s cinematography definitely takes it even further. Another key element will always be pacing, especially when it comes to horror, giving your audience the right amount of information at the right intervals and Kaz Ps does a great job. It’s gradual but not slow, it’s concise but not transparent, and it adds a nice punch to its ending.
Visually, the only weakness comes in with the use of effects. The more grounded, subtle nature of A Good Death doesn’t fit well with the effects, creating a clash and weakening the tone. It’s arguably the only weakness at play, because the rest of the short feels strongly on the same page. Especially the performances, Tracie Thoms frequently does not get enough credit despite giving highly memorable performances in film and television for the past two decades. She’s fantastic here, she creates a generous presence, she makes Amalia feel very relatable and sympathetic, but she also brings that light touch of vulnerability to be led into a suspicious situation.
Stefanie Estes then ups the creepy quota as Tabitha, it’s a tricky one to put into words but it’s the type of character we’ve seen many times over the years in horror cinema. It’s the body language, the way she lingers or how she maybe moves a little too fast or a little too quietly. Estes adds a jumpiness to her and a discomfort, it’s all very familiar in a great way. While Jenny O’Hara as the dying mother, Gertrude doubles down on that and ticks so many classic horror boxes. She fills that character with all sorts of messy, dark potential before anything ever really happens, and that’s what it’s about, it’s not what actually happens, it’s making your audience think about and fear what could happen. That’s something the entire cast and crew manage to do well with this short.
A Good Death is creepy, captivating and surprisingly nostalgic, as Kaz Ps truly creates an atmosphere for dedicated horror fans, without making it overly niche and alienating the rest of the audience. While its use of effects doesn’t quite mesh with the rest of the film, every other element is ticking the right boxes. The direction is excellent, the cinematography and editing are strong, there’s a nicely subtle score at work that hovers in the background, nudging you into its darkness. They put together a superb trio of actresses who really sell the mystery and sinister side, they’re highly enjoyable to watch. It’s well paced and there’s clearly a lot of thought which has gone into its choices, and they pay off.
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