The theme of personal identity runs rampant throughout Blake Simon’s impressive short FACES. He has crafted a superbly fresh film that grabs your attention immediately and makes you eager to see where it takes you.
Following the disappearance of a local girl on a dark October evening, Judy, a college student visiting for the weekend, is invited to a fraternity party. For Judy, what could have been a night of fun and drinking spirals out of control when she encounters a mysterious, deadly entity. As the night unfolds, the entity’s uncanny quest brings violent consequences to those who cross its path.
Not quite feeling you are who you should be is a thing that runs through pretty much all of us. Feeling that touch unsettled with who we are deep down, trying to change little parts of ourselves to try and find that perfect fit. It seems like a never-ending search with no chance of getting it right. It is difficult to feel that this iteration of us right now can be enough. We all see it via social media, online or in person. People want to “improve”, whether for their own satisfaction or how they are perceived. It’s an interesting thought that has only really just begun to be explored in cinema. In this case, Blake Simon has delved into this mindset and conjured up something quite special with his latest short film, FACES.
Rather brilliantly, Simon not only has Judy and co. feeling the pressures of adapting to who they are to feel comfortable in a group environment while never fully being comfortable with themselves, but the dark entity that follows the group is also experiencing its own version of it. The entity, a metaphor for the internal struggle of self-acceptance, is on a quest to find the right person, but as much as it tries, it can never feel settled, giving us a cracking moment at the end of FACES.
The finale of FACES is a masterful culmination of the characters’ desperate search for identity. It brilliantly captures the struggle to find oneself and be content with that. While it would be tempting to delve into more detail, some things are best left unspoiled, so you can fully appreciate the rewarding conclusion.
Led by Cailyn Rice, you feel her insecurities off the bat with how her friends talk about her dress. Judy is just someone trying to hang out with her friend and is caught up in all of this madness. Again, this is going to be as spoiler-free as possible. But needless to say, she and co-star Ethan Daniel Corbett knock it fully out of the park with their performances.
What shines through FACES is how well-designed the narrative is. The film’s structure, pacing, and character development are all meticulously crafted, contributing to a thought-provoking and inward glancing viewing experience. It could easily go off the rails, but it keeps itself together, ironically showing a confidence in what it is and its intent. With some top-notch evocative filmmaking from Simon and dreamlike cinematography from Andrew Fronczak, this is a horror short that should shoot up your lists to catch. Films like this that are as inventive as they are confident are sure-fire winners. Don’t miss out on this one.
★★★★
FACES will screen in competition as part of the SMALL GAUGE TRAUMA short film block, “Fantasia’s celebrated international showcase of cutting-edge genre works is back with ten films from six countries that positively astonish, returning this year for its 25th edition.”
For more of our coverage of Fantasia Festival 2024 please check out our reviews below:
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