Howdy, Neighbor! (2023)
It’s former child star vs. stalker in director Allisyn Snyder’s Howdy, Neighbor!, which finds gay actor Benjamin Caldwell (Matthew Scott Montgomery, who wrote the screenplay), who as a youngster had a starring role in a sitcom about a farm boy named Bucky who moves in with relatives in the big city, finding himself in a reluctant situation as his manager insists he join a cast reunion on Zoom to kick off the show being repeated on a streaming service. Benjamin has been downplaying his association with the role, but his new neighbor Chase Mitchell (Grant Jordan) recognizes him and, in the first of many uncomfortable moments, calls him a liar and gets him to confess that he indeed is the actor who portrayed Bucky. Benjamin is best friends with neighbor Harley Walker (Debby Ryan), with whom he shares the news about Chase’s escalating weird behavior. She suggests that he contact a policeman named Marcus Lockamy (Sterling Sulieman), who Benjamin once dated. Naturally, advice is not heeded and stupid decisions are made, with dangers and threats ramping up to the big cast reunion day. Montgomery does a believable, understated job as a confused man who just wants the stalking to stop on its own, Jordan gives off impressive evil vibes, and Sulieman is solid in his supporting role, but it is Ryan who steals the show, providing an effervescent performance and lighting up the screens — the films takes place on mobile phones and live feeds — every time she appears. Viewers will have to take a few things for granted — for example, that all of the other tenants of the apartment are conveniently away for the holidays, so that no one notices Chase’s strange behavior, and that certain timing during the climax is even more convenient — but if they are willing to do so, they should find Howdy, Neighbor! to be an entertaining, well-paced and nicely helmed thriller.
Mysteries of the Desert (2023)
Writer/director Adam Hardman’s proof-of-concept short horror film Mysteries of the Desert is a chilling effort, rich in splendidly shot, vivid imagery and absolutely living up to that which its title promises. Driving on the outskirts of the Salton Sea on a scorching hot day, Alice (Jennette Nelligan) sees an empty car on the side of the road and stops to see if she can help. Looking around an eerie property, she is startled by an injured woman (Whitney Crowder). The two try to make an escape, with the woman saying that someone is following them, but this being a horror short, a safe outcome is highly unlikely. Hardman, who coproduced with Crowder, builds up the tension masterfully, and Nelligan and Crowder are terrific in their roles. This land certainly holds its mysteries, and the plot of this short promises many more. Here’s to seeing this suspenseful short made into a feature film soon.
You can watch the trailer for Mysteries of the Desert here.
Howdy, Neighbor! and Mysteries of the Desert screen as part of Screamfest, which takes place in Los Angeles from October 10–19, 2023. For more information, visit https://screamfestla.com/.
