Horror In Short: Simone (2010)
Simone (2010)
Runtime: 16:50
Directed by: Joops Fragale
Written by: Frazer Lee
Cast: Jennifer Ward, Erin Nicole Cline
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again – short films are some of my favorites. The longer I’ve been reviewing films the less tolerance I seem to have for films filled with fluff for the sake of getting to that crucial 90 minute feature length mark. With short films you cut out the bullshit and just go for it. And I don’t say that to make people think I can’t enjoy the fine art of foreplay. I can and I do, but sometimes, as in the case of Simone, you have a rather simple premise, told cleverly that works just right as a short flick. I would always rather be left wanting more than to be waiting for the film to finish.
Director Joops Fragale does a great job at presenting his supernatural erotic horror story and sets things up to reveal quite a pleasant twist. Simone opens with the camera racing in and out of focus as it moves in on a naked woman sleeping in bed, clearly the morning after a long night of partying. Make-up is smeared on her face, a half finished drink by the bedside. All signs point to a really good time that she doesn’t remember. Simone wakens, and groggily stumbles through the following moments, picking up pieces of the events of the prior evening before the truth is revealed to her in a horrifying manner.
Before I get too far into the review I’d like to go on the record in stating that I’m not a huge fan of the “flashback sequence” in films. I generally scoff that they are the lazy man’s solution to a narrative problem. That said, I’m about to immediately eat my words because although the use of flashbacks in Simone is predominant, whether they are quick LSD inspired snippets, or longer drawn out moments, they are nonetheless effective. Without them this story would not have been able to be told as fully as it was. Additionally, there was a real eroticism to Simone’s character that wouldn’t have otherwise been revealed. I have to give Joops props. It got a little Jess Franco like there for a moment. Someone turn down the heat please! (Not that I’m complaining)
What’s erotic horror without some gore? Nothing. That’s what. While there’s a light to moderate amount of gore, what is presented here is done in quite a sickening way. There was one moment in particular my gag reflex was tested. Something not easily accomplished.
I don’t want to say a lot more about the film, because it’s the reveal at the end that makes it work. However, I will say one thing regarding the ending – (and this is my piece of constructive criticism targeted directly at the filmmakers) – I really felt the last three seconds of the film could have been cut out. The final seconds are cool and all, but at the same time I found them to be insulting to the intelligence of the viewership, and what happens seems to go against the vibe of the film. What was built up over the previous fourteen and a half minutes was completely washed away by essentially saying “Oh, in case you DIDN’T get it – This is what we meant”. The film should have cut to credits at precisely 14:28.
Okay – moving on – Don’t let those comments dismay you. I want to close this review out on a positive note because Simone really was rather inventive, and completely enjoyable. The eroticism and gore balanced well against each other, and never ventured into ridiculous exploitation. Everything presented on screen had purpose and meaning and filled out the characters, even if I remained at an emotional arms distance to them.
The DVD comes packed with over 85 minutes of extras that include a featurette on the making-of, pre-production footage, an On Set interview with producer Mike Long and writer/director Joops Fragale, “Seeing the Music: Simone Theme”, and so much more. For a short film, it’s rather unheard of to see this much.
One of the great things I loved about this was that so many times the shorts that get featured here are not available to the consumer. Not so with Simone. This one is indeed for sale and you can purchase it directly from the 386 Films at a very reasonable $9.99.
Check out the trailer below and click on through to purchase if you’re interested in seeing more.
Simone (Trailer) from Joops Fragale on Vimeo.
Simone (Trailer) from Joops Fragale on Vimeo.
