That the fight for bodily autonomy is still ongoing is utterly depressing so it is no surprise that creatives are taking that frustration around real-world horrors into striking horror narratives. The anger of these shorts is clear, calling attention to different kinds of control over bodies and lives.
Marked
Anyone who has ever experienced the side effects of hormonal birth control will find resonance in Marked. Andrea (Lauren Summers) takes on a new, experimental treatment after finding the pill is causing too many problems. While the unnerving visuals are memorable, the scariest part of this is the medical gaslighting she endures and how much she is sidelined in her own healthcare. The apathetic men around her do little to help and even the doctor is keen to emphasise the benefit for her partners over her own experience. This is an excellent union of horror with an all-too-real concern for many dealing with birth control.
La Antesala (The Anteroom)
This excellently rendered sci-fi concerning a refugee fleeing with her baby uses that initial gloss and high-tech appearance to expertly pull the rug from beneath viewers. A chilling view of a post-apocalyptic event and the increase in control that comes with it, delivering so many unpleasant details in dialogue before a final jolt of horror that hits hard.
Yummy Mummy
Lillith is having a baby and it is all people want to talk to her about. She laments, ‘no one is interested in me anymore…just the bump’ as everything in her life begins to revolve around her unborn child. Shrieking intrusions and quick cut highlight her increasing loss of control and voice. The clash between the talk of the birth of a child being a brilliant thing while also detailing the intensity of the medical experience perfectly outlines how trauma and celebration are both dominant concerns. The special effects here are excellent, coming to represent Lillith’s fractured state.
Sleep
I am not even that sure I can review this adequately. Every now and then you watch a film that hits you with the kind of fear that I can only describe as primal. At only around 5 minutes long Sleep is one of the shortest films in the block, yet uses close-up, tightly wound photography to the most unsettling effect. Absolutely anxiety-inducing and functions as a short blast of a nightmare I’m unable to get out of my head even weeks later.
Lichemoth
When a photographer heads to photograph a notorious metal band, she gets more than she bargains for when on-stage theatrics could be something more sinister than she ever imagined. With a strong basis in folklore this explores the idea of possession via sexuality. There is a dreamy quality to the original concert setting that persists throughout, using flashing lights to add to the sinister goings-on. This is a film content to take its time before arriving at its macabre reveal.
Sangue Nero
Sangue Nero features a young girl struggling with a tense family situation that escalates into abuse. Seeking revenge and to take back control, Chiara is led by unusual forces to complete this. The low-lighting of the house is warm, yet claustrophobic, aiding in placing the viewer in Chiara’s restricted, tense life. As the forces unfold, the ties between generations of women and a connection to nature become an increasingly intense mix, offering an escape from her harsh reality. This almost-dreamy take on revenge is engaging and satisfying.
The Bodily Autonomy shorts block screened as part of the Final Girls Berlin Film Festival 2023. Find out more about the festival at their webpage.
scaredsheepless 