MIFF 2022 Short Film Review - Phlegm

Images courtesy of the Melbourne International Film Festival.

Phlegm begins with an extended shot of a snail going about its business, until eventually getting stepped on by a man clearly late for his own business. After taking the time to wipe the remains of this poor snail from his shoe, he steps on another. And another, as snails seem to appear directly under his shoes every time he steps down, constantly getting in the way of his walk to work.

Absurdly and disgustingly hilarious, complete with gross-out detailed close-ups, through the exasperated performance of Pascal Ulli, the situation transforms from deadpan slapstick into existential horror as it keeps going, clearly influenced by the corporate nightmares in the work of Franz Kafka, but taken to the levels of comedic exaggeration. Once bystanders get involved, the true horror rolls in by the ridiculous yet eerily sinister final shot.

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Phlegm is screening as part of the WTF Shorts program at the Melbourne International Film Festival, running in cinemas August 4-21 and online August 11-28. For tickets and more info, click here.