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★Directed by: #JulieRobinson Starring: #ZarahHillHenderson, #RossSheldon Short Film Review by: #DanGunderman
One might think a hooded reaper-type already has enough "Me Time", lurking in the shadows, but a #shortfilm from writer and director Julie Robinson suggests otherwise.
The movie pivots from a younger woman bathing to a Ghostface-reminiscent intruder quickly leaving his bloody mark – for his haunting is quite “heartfelt.” The plot boils down to the young protagonist enjoying a bath but quickly tiptoeing to the halls to see what’s pursuing her.
Me Time is a bizarre project which boasts workable visuals and eerie ambience from cinematographer Allen McLaughlin. Jenn Ruxton offers up compatible music, but Robinson’s motivation is too unclear, for the work has gratuitous violence as it strives to be a sort of blend between the overt gore of Scream with the lure of the occult from something like Hereditary.
The film is essentially composed of three scenes: one showing a curious bather, another showing her investigation of the creaky floorboards and finally, the strange final images back in the tub alongside an iPod Classic.
The naked victim is played by Zarah Hill-Henderson, and her work is passable as she exits the tub amid her morbid curiosity. Ross Sheldon’s portrayal of the hooded Grim Reaper-type – who illuminates the hall with his red eyes – is largely immeasurable, but he fits somewhere in just an offbeat attempt at horror.
The short film carries perhaps one “jump scare,” but also a few inconsistencies – namely the Reaper’s weakness as he stalks his victim (Hill-Henderson) in the hall, and then the protagonist’s decision to turn her back on a hellish villain in order to cover up with a fallen towel. The sequence seems uneven, as does the ensuing bloodletting and the Reaper’s Hannibal Lecter moment in the tub (and, there was no Chianti!).
One can certainly see the #filmmakers had the right intentions – staging the eerie scene with proper set pieces, quality lighting and passable editing. Horror fans might be apt to view longer-form or feature-length projects from Robinson, as the aforementioned production values were certainly in place for Me Time. But on its own merits, the 2018 project falls flat – with a bizarre slasher sequence and some gratuitous violence accompanied by unanswered questions.
If one element is clear, it’s that both the living and the undead – or whatever our “Reaper” friend is – enjoy Apple products and a good tune. It’s a shame, however, that they couldn’t do so together. That may have made for a better outcome.
Me Time is a quick, two-minute watch, but you’ll no doubt leave with eyebrows raised in mild disapproval.
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