Independent Short Film: Virus
April 10th, 2011
This Independent Short Film is a psychological thriller, some might even say horror, and is perhaps not suitable for small children. It is a deviation from the usual sort I post, although some similar Independent Short Films can be found here, such as Lovefield, or The Ten Steps. Watch it first, and I’ll discuss it a bit below.
Virus
Here’s my immediate reaction after my first viewing.
Obviously, one of the first reasons I like this Independent Short Film (you can probably guess) is that it has no dialogue between the characters, which means that the acting is done purely through gestures and facial expressions, and the story is told purely by the setting, camera angles and editing technique.
My first clue as to what type of film this would be was the Dutch angle opening shot of the building. Dutch angles are almost always a good indication that something isn’t right.
Then I saw the gate closing. I wondered to myself, is this to keep people out, or to keep people in?
The security camera made me ask, who is watching, and who is being watched?
The aloof and unconcerned demeanor of the security guard told me that something was going to happen and he wouldn’t be aware of it.
Even the triangle hazard sign on the right side of the hallway in one of the early shots warned me that something was amiss.
Then I began to ponder over the name of the film. Virus. Was this supposed to mean a biological virus, a computer virus or something else? The interior of the building does look like a laboratory I know, and I wasn’t sure what to make of the title.
The ambient noise emitted by the computer monitor was unnerving, especially because the editor cut back and forth, and the whole process of waiting for the file to be downloaded really builds suspense, for the character, but also for me, the viewer.
Then, at the end, the true meaning of the title became clear. There was no computer virus found in the file, because the file itself was the virus, replicating itself every time it was opened, and then forwarding itself on to start the process anew.
One thing wasn’t clear to me, although I didn’t think of it until after the film finished and I had time to consider: I wondered what caused the nosebleeds. The obvious answer is that the virus was supernatural, independent of the computer, the email, the attachment, or the webcam, which also explains why the silhouette rose out of the floor, and why the pen also began bleeding. Maybe you got it before I did, but it proves the old maxim, “if you can’t find a logical explanation, blame it on an evil spirit.”
All in all, I liked the Independent Short Film, and I’m glad that there was no explicit violence or gruesome images. I wish more filmmakers would enhance their craft by allowing the audience to imagine the scene for themselves.
Oh, and I found a little easter egg. When the character checks his email, the first few emails are from another character, the girlfriend named Amber Vallery. The next email is from the filmmaker, i.e. writer, director and editor, and the subject of the email is simplefilms. A Google search led me to his website, which is how I am able to share these golden nuggets of insight with you:
“virus won the best international short award, presented by the int’l panorama of independent film-makers. it was short-listed for a number of awards including the jim poole award for best scottish fiction. it was highly commended in both the best of british category at brief encounters, and the tcm classic shorts competition and picked up awards for its art direction and performances. virus became one of the most successful films ever shown on atom films, watched by over 21,000 people on its first day alone.”
Do me a favor and send me your reaction on twitter (@HeidelbergChad) with your comment and the following link: http://twurl.nl/4u17je
Originally posted 2009-06-28 10:05:59.
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http://www.actionhouse.org kreativität
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Lena
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Mark
