What better way to ring in the new fear than with two twisted tales of innocent people in peril?

Director Nate Ruegger’s “Trust Me” kicks things off with an incredibly haunting opening shot. The lush nature contrasted with the mysterious hunched over figure is wonderfully creepy. The two leads in the short, played by Alexandra Bayless and Luke Cook, quickly fall into the hearts of audiences with their quirky chemistry and natural interactions. Part of a successful horror short is having characters an audience can relate with, and “Trust Me” does that just right.

What makes this short so tragic is that it suggests an incredibly momentous occasion is on the horizon for the couple, only to put these ambitions under immediate threat right before your eyes. The cinematography incorporates natural lighting in addition to lanterns and headlights. This creates a contrast with the low-contrast daylight and the oppressive night. The monster itself is quite effective, often working amongst the shadows and beneath tattered fabric. There is one shot that gives audiences just enough of a glimpse at the creature’s current form, and nightmare fuel is the perfect way to explain it.

Next up we have director Joe Zerull’s “The Newscaster”. While the previous short relied on slow-building tension and suspenseful scares, this one throws audiences directly into a hyper-fueled nightmare. From the opening moments a techno score blasts, showcasing a twisted contrast between a newscaster’s work and personal life. As the short progresses it becomes apparent that the newscaster’s lives are intertwining, with elements of his personal endeavors overlapping into the professional newsroom. This short film succeeds in the fact that it is quick to the point, and never ceases to be morbidly entertaining. The newscaster himself, played by Jay Joel Villwock, is wonderfully creepy, and continues to be effectively terrifying as more of his story is revealed. The editing of the short is very professional, along with the setting itself. The filmmakers at Natural Wipe Films have managed to convey a pretty believable news set and broadcast, adding to the uncomfortable realism of the tale. As a bonus, the cheeky title card animation at the end reminded me of the “Scream” title logo but maybe that’s just a me thing?

Hope you enjoyed the first World of Death of 2020 and stay tuned for more terrifying tales this decade!

-Noah Levine
Zomboy Productionz

World of Death is the web series that fans of independent horror have been waiting for.  Featuring short horror films from all over the globe created by the largest variety of talent that a collection has ever been able to boast, WOD provides plenty of blood, guts, screams and laughs for all fans of the macabre.  WOD is the perfect entertainment for a fan base constantly on the go.  Watch it anywhere, at any time, for FREE! New episodes premiere the first Wednesday of every month at 10am CST.

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