Monsters

Written and directed by Liz Cvalda

2024

Glassvision

Starting life as an end-of-year student project at the University of Derby, and subsequently being re-edited, Liz Cvalda’s Monsters is an interesting horror short that succeeds in creating an uncomfortable mood, even if some aspects need a little work.

Cathy Wippell plays Felicia, who murders her husband in the open minutes and then seemingly passes out. She wakes up in the isolated home of Katherine (Beth Gatherer) and is forced to stay the night as tensions rise between the two.

Cvalda, who produced, wrote, directed, edited, and help soundtrack the short, brings a lot to the table here; collaborating with director of photography Jed Ducusin and assistant director Adele Palmer, they have an excellent visual style, using the stained-glass windows to give Katherine’s home an ethereal look. The use of shadows, and sudden visual reveals help to build an atmosphere that is never terrifying but is certainly unnerving.

Both lead performances are good as well. Wippell, especially, brings a depth to Felicia, who is traumatised by her abusive relationship and the crime she has committed – often flitting between a stubborn unrepentant attitude and a search for divine forgiveness. Gatherer has a little less to do in the script, sometimes feeling like a sounding board for her co-star, though she gives 100% as we edge closer to the finale.

I am forever in awe of creatives who manage to tell a cohesive story in the space of a short film. Cvalda’s script isn’t perfect – there are some clunky moments which could have done with workshopping – but there is a real depth here. Big issues are spotlighted such as morality, feminism, and misandry, as well as how we process trauma. There are also various literary themes dotted throughout, including references to the poet Terrace Hayes – ‘the golden shovel’ and ‘the rusted pistol.’

Most impressive is Cvalda’s ability to self-edit. In their director’s statement they note that the initial version of the film did not meet their expectations and that 2023 was spent re-editing. It would be interesting to see the original version to make comparisons but what we have here is an excellent showcase of Cvalda’s ability. Using horror to discuss big issues and squeezing so much out of the small budgets and limited resources available.

Monsters will not be for everyone, but for those who have enjoyed the recent surge of quiet horror (Skinamarink, We’re All Going to the World’s Fair), and more introspective scares could find a real talent to watch here.

★★★★

4 / 5

Matthew Tilt

Twitter @Matthew_Tilt