MIFF 2022 Short Film Review - Creature

Images courtesy of the Melbourne International Film Festival.

Going for more of a sensory experience than a straightforward story, this stunning neon-bathed short film uses a variety of creative effects while crosscutting between time-periods, dream sequences, and other surreal imagery, to turn a tragic breakup into a visual psychological horror. There’s a strong halo-effect around the frame, often taking up half of the image, coupled with beautiful double exposures, creates a dreamlike effect. It truly goes all in on the visual style, while leaving most of the vague details of the story to the viewer’s imagination. One specifically striking image (also used on the poster) is this long red hallway with a pulsating plant-like entity - perhaps a representation of the titular Creature - which, when coupled with the haunting orchestral score, gives the whole short a very ominous feeling.

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Creature is screening as part of the Animation 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.