Opening with a quotation from Dr. David Eagleman, “When your death is near, time will seem to slow to a crawl”, writer/director/producer Matt Bloom takes these words to heart, his horror short film Endless (2011) an eight minute hors d’oeuvre shot entirely in slow motion (you don’t see that everyday).
Showing every minute detail, what would in reality be a thirty second action scene slows to a crawl, an intense roller coaster ride full of intricate twists as well as dramatic ebbs and flows of mixed emotions. You wouldn’t think that thirty seconds of anything could lead to more ups and downs, but Bloom takes what looks to be a thrilling possible murder scene (like something you would see in Alfred Hitchcock’s Psycho), and tweaks it in a unique way where things are not what they seem.
Mina (Katy Gannon) is the woman in the shower. . . relaxing in her own private oasis, when, out of nowhere, a maniacal, knife wielding man, Abraham (Chris Geere), enters the room – his intention clearly not to chop some onions.
In a fascinating arc, the narrative reaches multiple crescendos, for just when you thought things couldn’t become any more intense, it surprises you. Matched by Dave Andrew’s epic score, it is the film’s voice (for there is not one word spoken during the seven minutes). Voices silent, his music captures each tense moment, every emotional detail – the change in tone in the final few minutes a jarring juxtaposition to what was. . . an unexpected heft added to the story.
Perhaps the most fascinating aspect of this unprecedented experiment is the ability for the audience to experience the absolute picture. . . you see the subtle changes in the actors’ faces as they battle for their lives, every powerful strike as the action develops, the split second decisions needed when your survival is on the line. If shot at normal speed, the pace and action editing would inevitably cause you to miss numerous moments as your brain gets overwhelmed, yet, at this deathly tempo, you are pulled further into the story – your mind absorbing each valuable second (which seems somehow even slower).
From sexy music video shower scene to murder mystery, supernatural horror to a tale of family and survival, this quickly changing (despite the slow motion) and beautifully lit short film leads to a non-finite final note that lets your imagination take over. With a volatility that seems to contrast the pace of the short, this film isn’t missing a damn thing. . . so check it out this Halloween season.