Perhaps some things never change. . . and by that, I mean guys being idiots. A dark thriller about an aging man’s deep-seated flaws, Simon Birrell writes and directs under the guidance of longtime exploitative horror filmmaker José Ramon Larraz; His Last Request (2005) a twenty-seven minute short delving into the depths of a warped human being’s psyche. . . and the problems he himself has wrought.
Shot as a silent film and in ominous black and white (I know what you’re thinking – how avant-garde), Spanish horror legend Jack Taylor plays the father. . . a man, who after years of multiple marriages, philandering, and god knows what else (he has cameras watching his entire apartment – likely not for security reasons), is now permanently relegated to a wheelchair (that is, if he wants to move around – otherwise, he is bedridden). Losing more money through alimony than an overzealous sailor fresh off the ship, his lawyer (Ramón Rados) is trying to get his papers in order before he runs out of money, or dies. . . it is a toss-up as to which might happen first.
Cared for by his loving daughter (Carmen Vadillo), she seems completely at odds with his bacchanal ways. Very conservative, her watchful eyes frequently linger on her father, strict and controlling, attempting to curb his long-immoral ways – one toe out of line and she is there, putting him back in his place.
As the three are wrapping up their meeting, a nurse (Iris Díaz), answering their ad (as his daughter can’t do everything), unexpectedly arrives on the scene. She is a young, mysterious beauty. . . underqualified in every which way, but the patriarch is excited to give her a chance – big shocker.
Bringing an even greater perversion out of the old hound dog, the elderly man tries to twist the alluring siren around his finger. . . though we start to wonder if it might be the other way round. Finally asking his nurse for his last request (whispered in her ear – so that we do not get a title card explaining what was said), this secret lingers in the air – a thrillingly dangerous question mark haunting the atmosphere of the piece. What was this last request? Will his illusive nurse partake in what has been asked of her? One thing is clear – money is not her motive, as she cuts down his offer immediately.
Though a black and while silent short from 2005 might not sound like your cup of tea, this sordid tale is only further enhanced by these stylistic choices (Birrell even going so far as to use the iconic iris shot – where the camera shrinks to a small circle before cutting to the next scene). A mystery/thriller with horror elements, the man’s checkered past life and depraved present secrets are exaggerated and exemplified by the shadowy recesses and perturbing silence. Further enlightened by a perfect setting, the apartment is filled with Mid Century Modern and Art Deco tchotchkes (and I’m not just talking about the nurse), unusual figurine lamps and small statues that suit this aging man and his controversially kinky style. And, fluttering over the top is an intoxicating score from Mike Sobieski, at times the beat of the man’s black heart, at others, pushing the suspenseful intrigue on towards its unexpected conclusion.
A short film that pulls from multiple eras, His Last Request speaks to the silent era, the exploitation flicks of the late sixties that led into the seventies and eighties, sexploitation, horror, mystery and thrillers of multiple decades, while you can also see Hitchcock, Buñuel, Larraz (of course, mentioned above), and so many others in this eccentric work. So, request this little seen short film – I’m not kidding about this one.