Final Girl Film Festival 2021

IT’S COMING FROM INSIDE THE SCREEN: CYBER HORROR

(Screening Thursday, February 4 th – 11AM CT)

The Final Girl Film Festival has moved online for this year, and I was lucky enough to be able to

watch some of the short films screening this week. And I was really not disappointed. The first set –

It’s Coming from Inside the Screen: Cyber Horror – contains five different films, all focusing on technology and how it helps and hinders, more often the latter, the lives of these characters. See below for my mini-reviews for each one.

Spyglass

Directed by Javi Prada

A young woman is determined to prove just how long ambulances take where she lives. She sets up

her livestream, and promises viewers the main event will happen once she has enough people

watching. The tension build up was really good here, keeping me wondering what exactly was going

to happen and how it would all pan out. The switch between ‘found footage’ style of the stream and a

more traditional film, as well as the comments pinging in, is done really well. This is a good critique

of social media and streaming/influencer culture, with dangerous stunts performed to gain followers.

Don’t Text Back

Written and Directed by Kaya Adelaide and Mariel Sharp

Starring Danielle Lapointe and Nancy Webb

This one is going to stick in my head for a long time. Kelly (Danielle Lapointe) seeks the help of

‘energy healer’ Jaren (Nancy Webb), after having problems with a particular ‘hot’ guy. Both women

are very relatable – you either connect with one of them in a “that’s me” kind of way, or know

someone who is exactly like them. The two women feel realistic and natural in their interactions, and

the reveal of how bad Kelly’s problem is is really interesting. There’s great use of humour throughout

(such as the suggestion of trying a different sexual orientation), and commentary on dating, the

treatment of women, men who won’t take ‘no’, and MRAs. The ending had me crying with laughter.

Fragile.com

Directed by Alison-Eve Hammersley

Written by Brittany Menjivar

Starring Carly Stewart, Colin Woodell, Nick Fink

This one took me right back to those awkward crush teenage years, living for the thrill of seeing that

guy and the dread of having friends find out. This one shows that unrequited crush really well, as well

as the absolute pain of rejection and trying not to let it show when all you want to do is cry. Luckily

for Mara (Carly Stewart), her sadness is exactly what Duco (Colin Woodell) is looking for. It’s easy

to see why she’s charmed by him – at that age, any older guy who pays attention is hot. He wants

someone for his latest ‘project’, which involves men paying to watch girls cry on camera. Ew, much,

but feels so realistic. Again, streaming commentary, as well as the rise of subscription-type platforms.

This one touches on how men will take advantage of a woman’s pain. We assume some men can’t

stand a crying woman, but put a screen in front of them and you know they’d lap it up. A really

fantastic short, that touches on some absolutely critical points. This one got bonus points from me just

for my “Dude from Legacies!” moment with Nick Fink, too.

Swipe Up, Vivian!

Directed by Hannah Welever

Written and Produced by – Addison Heimann

Starring Emily Marso, Mary Williamson

The opening of this one could almost have you convinced it’s set in the present day, but there are

hints it’s not. Once it gets going, things about this set up feel eerily familiar for us living in pandemic

times. Vivian lives alone, scared to go outside, where danger lurks. She has a lack of human

connection and interaction, until her sister convinces her to try a new ‘Bliss’ app. The horror here is

more quiet, more about the setting, reliance on technology and the isolation rather than the events, and

it’s actually a really well done, sweet tale.

Kailey’s Last Review

Film by Julia Bailey Johnson

Kailey is a beauty vlogger who has been asked to try a new range of skincare. This one is a good look

at vlogging, at the urge to get that sponsorship. Kailey is in touch with the mysterious company

providing the face-peel, and despite her pain, she’s still willing to go through with it for the

sponsorship and promise of perfect skin. This is really good body horror, and hard to look away from.

There’s not a single film from the above five I wouldn’t recommend. They’re fantastic, using different

types of technology to emphasise the horror, touching on various aspects of modern life. The quality

is consistently outstanding, and I thoroughly enjoyed all these short films.

Reviews by Elle Turpitt

Twitter: @ElleTurpitt

Website: www.elleturpitt.com