Higher Knowledge

Writer and director Elijah Bigler cites John Carpenter’s films as the central influence behind Higher Knowledge, and it is clear to see how the legendary horror auteur’s legacy has left its mark. This college-set sci-fi short punches above a student budget to deliver a film that is fun, atmospheric and eye-grabbing.

Graduate students Ray (Jaden Besteda), Howard (Devin Hite) and Eric (Jose Antonio Otero) spend much of their time pondering research, but a run-in with their professor Jonathan Dante (Jon Schaffer) opens their eyes to scientific potential that they never even dreamed of. When it turns out a creature has taken possession of the man they look up to and left a strange equation on his chalkboard, it is up to the trio to figure out the power it hides – and to decide if it belongs in this world.

Passion and inspiration are always evident in a film, and Higher Power has both in spades. Bigler and co. were clearly having a blast in this short’s production, injecting loving references to John Carpenter’s work and experimenting with how far they can push their budget into the sci-fi/horror sphere. The eccentric performance of Jon Schaffer is something of a summation of this work – just teetering on the edge of over-the-top but staying grounded enough to balance out the otherworldliness. That is until a gloriously gory sequence of disembowelment that will stun audiences out of any malaise.

There is a retro ambiance to the film that sits nicely with the story, another clear influence of Carpenter’s work. Warm, wide shots in the college halls act as a calm before the storm, before the lecture hall begins to close in on the trio as the gravity of their discovery becomes clear. It is in these sequences that the characters are really fleshed out and the film builds substance as well as style. Bigler’s eye for a shot keeps momentum during these sequences as the sci-fi story beats are baked further into the narrative. There are a couple of moments where viewer immersion gets broken such as a distracting red visual effect that flashes on the screen when a knife is used, but these are few and far between.

Jaden Besteda, Devin Hite and Jose Antonio Otero feel right at home as the three leads, with Otero in particular standing out with a strong performance as the inquisitive but cautious Eric. Each performance feels distinct and deliberate, approaching the equation from different angles in order to keep audiences on their toes.

Higher Knowledge is a really entertaining short – a snippet of a larger story in reality but one that leaves audiences longing for more. Elijah Bigler’s sense for atmosphere is its biggest asset, and having characters that stand out is not far behind.