HOWL FROM BEYOND THE FOG (2019)
And now for something completely different. This is an independent animated short made entirely with puppets. As for the plot, we're in kaiju territory. A blind girl befriends a lake monster as they try to protect their land against insatiable developers. It's official; if you're a land developer in a sci-fi/horror film, you are scum. There is also a ghost involved, but to be honest, the minutiae of the script is glossed over in a push to focus on Nebula (the monster). Unfortunately, that means character interplay is a bit muddy. Don't let that deter you from checking out Howl from Beyond the Fog. If you search for reviews of the film, you'll notice that most folks only discuss the merits of the visuals. That's because the visuals are truly incredible.
There is a making-of documentary on Amazon Prime (it plays directly after the feature), and I recommend watching it. This thing is a joy to behold. There are so many details that pay off in dividends. For instance, we see a shot of Nebula strutting her (his?) stuff with a fireworks display in the background. It's one of countless arresting images I remembered well after the ending credits rolled. Concerning Nebula, it can be best described as a cross between a sexy brontosaurus and the Crater Lake monster. NOTE TO SELF: Revisit The Crater Lake Monster. Howl from Beyond the Fog is a technical wonder. A 35-minute running time ensures a bouncy, nimble viewing experience. For your information, it pairs well with Wild Cherry Pepsi.
No comments:
Post a Comment