Were-Flutter: Darkest Desire – Short Film Review

After picking up a strange but hypnotizing gem on the street during her walk back home, Hope begins her striking transformation into a fearless creature.

A new short film produced, edited and directed by Alexis Ramirez has dropped this year and promises to haunt your screens with weird myth and magic.

The story is one of simple transformation. A young woman finds an unusual necklace on her journey home. In this case, playing by the rule of finders keepers will cost her dearly. Blissfully unaware of the horrors she is about to unleash on her own body, once home, Hope tries on the necklace. The transformation begins.

We have some creative use of lighting effects to generate an atmosphere of evil staking its claim over an innocent life. I especially liked the way lighting and shadows were used to imply certain aspects of the transformation. Before our very eyes, Hope becomes a horrifying creature with long nails and pointy ears. The sound affects accompanying this are particularly gruesome and contribute to the horror. The film displays competent use of special effects make up to help achieve the desire aesthetic. What seems to be a half werewolf half faerie fusion has now has completely replaced the young woman we first met.

The film communicates very well visually, which is important as there is no dialogue at all throughout. The protagonist is portrayed by Lex E. Rojas, and despite never speaking, she manages to convey both halves of her character in the film effectively. Words are not necessary here as the focus is on visual transformation.

The film also relies on audio for its effectiveness. The aforementioned sound affects certainly add a toe-curling dimension to the visuals. As well as this, music by Joe Kowalski (who is also an excellent writer and director) features throughout. His compositions are very mysterious and edgy, working to fill in for the lack of dialogue and keep the audience on the edge of their seats.

Beware the Were-Flutter! Watch the trailer below.