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Out of all genres of film that exist in the world, horror is arguably one of the most challenging to tackle, much less master. The task of producing shocks and tension without relying on stereotypical tropes and slipping into cliché is a difficult balance to maintain, one that many attempt but very few succeed. It’s a task that is exponentially more troublesome when it comes to a short film, restricted by a much reduced run-time and necessity to create a more rapid-fire pace than usual.
Thankfully, it is a task that writer/director James Webber and his team are more than able to handle, not only managing to keep the scales perfectly aligned but also adding numerous other elements to the mix, serving to create something pleasantly refreshing.
After an argument with her boyfriend whilst driving back from a party, Mel ends up alone in the wrong side of town on a dark Halloween night.
Thankfully, it is a task that writer/director James Webber and his team are more than able to handle, not only managing to keep the scales perfectly aligned but also adding numerous other elements to the mix, serving to create something pleasantly refreshing.
After an argument with her boyfriend whilst driving back from a party, Mel ends up alone in the wrong side of town on a dark Halloween night.
'The Prey' kicks off the proceedings with some truly awe-inspiring visuals and camera-work, setting the foreboding eeriness of the evening within seconds. All before drawing you in to the more human and relatable drama between Mel (Rebecca Van Cleave) and her boyfriend (James Alexandrou).
From there, things refuse to let up; the drama quickly ramping up to a broader sense of such nerve-wracking tension that it’s all but impossible not to be pulled to the edge of your seat. It truly is heart-pounding stuff, not least of all due to a truly impressive use of music and sound, that manages to seem both original and occasionally an homage to other well-known horror movies.
On the acting front, all prominent members of the cast are on solid form. James Alexandrou ('Eastenders') does well with a role which, with lesser writing and in lesser hands, could have been a one-note and generic “annoying boyfriend” role, blessing it with nuance and an acute sense of awareness. Of the two, however, Sam Gittins ('Ripper Street') easily stands out, conveying myriad emotions and levels of menace with expressions and actions alone.
Alongside and up against both, Rebecca Van Cleave ('The Royals', 'Game of Thrones') more than holds her own, in both the personal drama and the subsequent tense situations she finds herself involved in. The scenes she shares with Sam Gittins truly sizzle with palpable psychological and emotional strain. As well as, surprisingly, a wonderful amount of dark humour, producing genuinely laugh-out-loud moments amid the traditional and impressive gore and violence.
From there, things refuse to let up; the drama quickly ramping up to a broader sense of such nerve-wracking tension that it’s all but impossible not to be pulled to the edge of your seat. It truly is heart-pounding stuff, not least of all due to a truly impressive use of music and sound, that manages to seem both original and occasionally an homage to other well-known horror movies.
On the acting front, all prominent members of the cast are on solid form. James Alexandrou ('Eastenders') does well with a role which, with lesser writing and in lesser hands, could have been a one-note and generic “annoying boyfriend” role, blessing it with nuance and an acute sense of awareness. Of the two, however, Sam Gittins ('Ripper Street') easily stands out, conveying myriad emotions and levels of menace with expressions and actions alone.
Alongside and up against both, Rebecca Van Cleave ('The Royals', 'Game of Thrones') more than holds her own, in both the personal drama and the subsequent tense situations she finds herself involved in. The scenes she shares with Sam Gittins truly sizzle with palpable psychological and emotional strain. As well as, surprisingly, a wonderful amount of dark humour, producing genuinely laugh-out-loud moments amid the traditional and impressive gore and violence.
All in all, 'The Prey' is a truly confident, accomplished, and beautifully well-rounded short. One that knew exactly what it wanted to achieve and stylishly succeeded in doing so without an ounce of excess weight. Despite spanning less than ten minutes, from the aforementioned visuals and score to the acting and writing so tight that it could easily stand-up to repeat viewings, there really is a lot to love.
Review by Jay Thomas.
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