I normally get scared when a short film hits my desk. Because it either means that it’s a low budget film or it’s a really bad student film. Most of the time I get bad student films, and maybe about twenty five percent of the shorts that have passed though my door and into my DVD player were indie films that were worth the watch. However there is always that one gem that hits you and makes you feel as if you have to let the world know about it. “Nothing in the Dark” written & directed by new filmmaker John Correll Jr. is one of those gems.
“Nothing in the Dark” only runs nine minutes and change, but that nine minutes is one hell of a scare filled movie. Most horror fans will notice the “Twilight Zone” influence right away, however I noticed that it had a feeling of a William Castle film as well, such as “House on Haunted Hill” and “13 Ghosts” it has the weird eerie film that those ghost films of the fifties and sixties give you.
The story is basic, a little girl who is scared to sleep alone in her room, begs her mother to let her sleep with her in her bedroom. The mother says no, puts the girl to bed and plays her music box for her to help her sleep, however the music box stops, the night light goes out, and out comes the evil ready to scare and ready to play.
With a short script that does not involve a lot of dialogue and only runs nine minutes, you have to keep your idea simple and to the point. “Nothing in the Dark” is a simple, direct to the point idea, and it works wonderfully. The use of shots are what make the film. I felt as if I was really there alone in the room witnessing all the horror of the young girl. The directing and writing are nothing but top notch and my hat is off to John Correll Jr. for making such a great short film.
The acting in the film is extremely well, we only have one cast member a little girl, who’s name slips my mind right now, but she was great. John’s work as a director shines here, as working in the film business and children actors are a hard thing to do. Just proof that Correll is a talent that should not be overlooked.
Overall, I have to say this is one of the best indie short film I’ve seen since Christopher Alan Broadstone introduced me to his work last year. I think that John Correll Jr. is another name that deserves to be up there on the Horror Bob list of great indie directors. “Nothing in the Dark” is a simple short film, done extremely well. I’m sure any parent who sees this film will be letting their kids sleep in bed with them for the next few months.
– Horror Bob
- Interview with J.R. Bookwalter - January 22, 2015
- Interview with Andrew J. Rausch - January 22, 2015
- Interview with Rick Popko and Dan West - January 22, 2015
- Interview with Director Stevan Mena (Malevolence) - January 22, 2015
- Interview with Screenwriter Jeffery Reddick (Day of the Dead 2007) - January 22, 2015
- Teleconference interview with Mick Garris (Masters of Horror) - January 22, 2015
- A Day at the Morgue with Corri English (Unrest) - January 22, 2015
- Interview with Writer/Director Nacho Cerda (The Abandoned, Aftermath) - January 22, 2015
- Interview with Actress Thora Birch (Dark Corners, The Hole, American Beauty) - January 22, 2015
- Interview with Actor Jason Behr, Plus Skinwalkers Press Coverage - January 22, 2015
