Control: a character study on isolation, mental breakdown and psychological assault
Carroll Brown, “Control” (2019) Filmed on a tiny budget, this science fiction horror short is an intense character study detailing the effects of long isolation in…
DUST
A tale of alienation, dehumanisation and exploitation in “Upload:U”
Samuel E Mac, “Upload:U” (2017) A creepy little short made in very sparing minimalist style, “Upload:U” may be viewed as a metaphor expressing the alienation and…
Corrections: a tale of obsession, extreme control, psychological projection and denial
Nicholas Tucker, “Corrections” (2017) A tale of obsession and extreme control in a future dystopian society, this short film is completely character and dialogue-driven, revolving around…
The Time Agent: a time travel story of loneliness and alienation
Jude Chun, “The Time Agent” (2016) In its own unassuming way, “The Time Agent” is a deconstruction of a once common style of narrative in genres…
Nano: hard-boiled pulp fiction ho-hum plot with an unusual premise
Mike Manning, “Nano” (2017) This short film has the look and feel of a proof-of-concept work itching to be made into a full-length feature film or…
The Replacement: an inquiry into the nature-versus-nurture dilemma
Sean Miller, “The Replacement” (2018) What starts out as an investigation of the consequences of cloning in this sci-fi comedy short turns out almost to be…
Nine Minutes: choosing how to die as your oxygen gives out
Ernie Gilbert, “Nine Minutes” (2017) What if you suddenly discovered that you only had nine minutes left to live? How would you spend that time? This…
French and French-language Films
Animal: in a ruined world, hope, tradition and openness to new consciousness can overcome despair
Jules Janaud and Fabrice le Nezet, “Animal” (2017) In the not too distant future, in a post-industrial world, communities living on the margins of society will…
Plurality: a film of techno-dystopia in New York
Dennis Liu, “Plurality” (2012) A competent little short that looks very much like a proof-of-concept work for a longer feature film, “Plurality” plays like a conventional…
British Films, North American Films
Zero: teenage survivalist making a critical decision about her future
Keith and David Lynch, “Zero” (2019) In a post-apocalyptic world, when robots and humans have fought each other almost to the death in a long drawn-out…