Tooth
A woman (Janine Peck) takes impeccable care of her teeth, brushing, flossing, and whitening on a regular basis. Now her teeth are going to take care of her, in the much more violent sense of the term. Director Jillian Corsie’s horror comedy doesn’t spare the blood as it brings on the humor. Using puppets made from her actual teeth(!) along with CG effects, 2D animation, and live action, Corsie crafts a short that comments on the quest for perfection in a lighthearted vein. Sherri Chung’s whimsical score fits the proceedings wonderfully. You can watch the trailer at https://vimeo.com/778596583
Millstone
This intriguing thriller finds a couple (Bellamie Bachleda and Daniel Durant) grieving over the loss of their five-year-old son, who was the victim of a hit-and-run accident, seeking out a highly unusual cure from a therapist (Eddie Buck). Shot exclusively in American Sign Language with an all-deaf cast, Millstone opens with an air of mystery and then takes a wholly unexpected turn that I found riveting and highly satisfying. Writer/director Peter Hoffman Kimball’s short is the kind of film that makes you want to watch it again immediately after learning its revelations, and the top-notch performances, gripping drama, and fine production values make it highly rewatchable.
Hubbards
Writer/director Kevin Ralston’s Hubbards is an offbeat comedy that would fit right in with classic Adult Swim live-action works. Ralston portrays a man who goes through the daily, near-Sisyphian task of searching in the woods for the bones of his brother. The short reveals how he finds the fortitude to drive himself on in his quest. Ralston gives an amusing, gleefully strange performance, and Steven Cohen provides some added humor in a supporting role. Hubbards is the type of comedy short that will give fans of surreal, left-field humor like yours truly plenty to enjoy, while leaving others scratching their heads. Check out the teaser clip at https://vimeo.com/778508318/8c553f96b8.
TOOTH, MILLSTONE, and HUBBARDS screen as part of Slamdance Film Festival, which takes place in-person from January 20–26 in Park City and Salt Lake City, Utah and virtually from January 23–29, 2023.
