Indie
[FrightFest Review] ‘Broken’ Will in Fact Break You
We all know that, ultimately, even the most sickening on-screen horrors pale in comparison to things going on across the world everyday. Even so, the fact that Broken was inspired by the director’s time working as a carer is chilling. It shouldn’t come as a surprise, but it hits hard.
Evie (Martyr’s Morjana Alaoui) has just taken care of John (Mel Raido), a tetraplegic ex-musician. John isn’t the nicest of guys at the best of times, so his disability has made him close to insufferable. He barks orders at Evie and treats her like a slave day in and day out. The film, which is co-written by the director, Shaun Robert Smith, and Craig Conway (who also stars as John’s enabling friend, Dougie), becomes a study into the relationship between these two oil and water personalities.
Alaoui and Raido are outstanding in the lead roles. Both actors eschew any mannered caricature for naturalism, and the result is two uncomfortably real performances. They’re a big reason the film works as well as it does. Conway’s also very strong in his supporting role. Dougie is more of a black and white character than the two leads, but he’s is brilliantly despicable nonetheless.
Smith and Conway’s script is intelligent and empathetic, asking questions of the audience, as opposed to passing judgement on its characters. It does make for a very difficult watch, though. Smith doesn’t shy away from the unpleasant details of life as a carer. He could so easily have gone just with the broader, more palatable hardships, but instead chooses to represent every facet of professional care and makes some truly tragic observations in the process.
Now, if you were thinking this doesn’t sound like much of a horror film, then you’d be right. It plays like a social realist drama for the most part, but some creepy visions and a cathartic finale deliver more traditional genre thrills without ever diminishing the serious, and understated, work done elsewhere. Likewise, the music, from English two-piece Hyde & Beast, isn’t necessarily the kind of accompaniment you might first associate with a film such as this. But, their songs are great and the upbeat tones are juxtaposed chillingly with Evie’s crummy situation.
Smith and Conway play their hand confidently in Broken, unhurriedly revealing their cards, and only when the time is right. Some may describe it as a bit of a slow burn, but it felt just right to me.
Her House of Horrors, the horror division of Independent Production House WOMXNOGRAPHY, has launched its Bite Size Short Grant Program, ahead of its film festival Dollhouse of Horror, which will take place in March 2025 in Los Angeles, CA.
The Bite Size Short Grant Program awards $2,000 film grants to female-identifying and queer horror filmmakers. Shorts must be able to be made for $2,000, with a minimum runtime of 8 minutes. Submissions are now open on Filmfreeway, and are being judged by a panel of horror lovers and content creators.
The 2024 Bite Size Short Grant Program judge lineup is as follows:
“James H. Carter II- A documentary director, film producer, podcaster, marketing specialist, and writer. James is the founder and co-owner of Creepy Kingdom. Creepy Kingdom was founded in 2011 and is a multimedia website, and production studio specializing in creepy content. Their primary focus lies at the intersection of childlike fantasy and the macabre, covering horror films, theme parks, haunts, and much more. Beyond their extensive media coverage, Creepy Kingdom hosts events, offers original merchandise, and engages in film production under the Creepy Kingdom Studios brand producing original films like “Foolish Mortals”, exploring Disney’s “Haunted Mansion” fan culture, and “Georgie”, featuring Tony Dakota from the original “It” miniseries.
“In addition to founding Creepy Kingdom, James has won awards for his documentary work, including the award-winning “Foolish Mortals,” which has earned him recognition. He has been featured on Freeform’s 31 Nights of Halloween special.
“Ashleeta Beauchamp is the editor-in-chief of Peek-A-Boo! Magazine, a cheeky horror magazine created to uplift marginalized writers, artists, models and other creators within the horror community. She also runs The Halloween Coalition, a community group to provide support and marketing for horror and Halloween events around the Southern California area.
“Titeanya Rodríguez is a multi-hyphenate creative, and the founder and owner of HER HOUSE OF HORRORS, home of DOLLHOUSE OF HORROR and the horror division of WOMXNOGRAPHY. As a fellow storyteller and a self-proclaimed artivist, Titeanya’s mission is to create opportunities for women of color and queer women, across film, tv, sports, music, and beyond. She is also the creator of the BITE SIZE SHORT grant program.”
Winners will have a one-night theatrical screening at Regal Cinemas. Submissions Close April 8 at Midnight. Winners will be announced on May 27, 2024. Shorts must be shot and through post-production by June 30, 2024. The screening will take place on July 8, 2024, in Los Angeles, CA.
WOMXNOGRAPHY, HER HOUSE OF HORRORS, and Rodriguez are represented by Azhar PR, Granderson Des Rochers, and Kinsella Holley Iser Kump Steinsapir.
To submit your short to the Bite Size Short Grant Program, go to the FilmFreeway link here.
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