by: Brandon Guiles
Starring – Jennifer Nangle (Malvolia: Queen of Screams, Irrational Fear)
Brialynn Massie (Serena Waits, Lilith)
Written & Directed by: Brialynn Massie
Produced by: Charles Chudabala, Hunter Johnson, Brialynn Massie
This is an exciting time for independent horror filmmakers and fans alike. I'm seeing some amazing independent work from so many new and not-yet-noticed directors, including this 2019 short film from Brialynn Massie, titled Self Sabotage.
The film begins with a woman in a bathtub, in some kind of obvious distress. While experiencing visions of a monstrous woman killing her mother, she starts having a breakdown in the tub. This ends with a knock on the door from her mother, who wants to make sure she's okay and ready for their movie night. The woman gets out of the tub and everything seems to go back to normal until she opens the door and sees her mother...
Don't worry, I won't spoil the ending for you.
Being a filmmaker myself, I love seeing this type of artistic horror. While this was shot primarily in a bathroom, it doesn't feel like it. The color palette of grays, blacks, and whites really complement the director's vision of the darkness the main character is traveling through. While some of the shots can be a bit distracting, the overall feeling of claustrophobia and fear is always impressively present. My favorite shot is when the monster's outstretched finger reaches for the woman as she's trying to turn the faucet on. I thought to myself, "Whoa, that's a good shot!"
