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Nightmare Feed Review
By Reed Alexander
April 22, 2020
I was able to secure a early viewing key to do review on this amazing adaptation of the Poe Classic The Tell Tale Heart.
This one is gonna be rife with –SPOILERS-, but c’mon. It’s The Tell Tale Heart, by Edgar Allan Poe.
I was particularly impressed by this retelling of Poe’s classic, The Tell Tale Heart. Those familiar with my reviews, know I’m not fond of poetry, and though I’ve reviewed some books of poetry in the past (like The Configuration Discordant, by John Baltisberger), poetry is usually not my cup of tea. Poe was always an exception to that rule, and while my love of Poe isn’t terribly nuanced or refined, it is love, none the less. Screwing up one of my favorite poems by Poe could spell certain doom for any series or film under my scrutiny. Moreover, a shameless rehash of something that fall under public domain is another good way to compel my ire.
This, however, not only did the source material justice, but like the newest rendition of H. P. Lovecraft’s Color Out of Space (2019), the director/writer managed to make it his own thing, and in this respect, special.
There are two classic interpretation of Poe’s Tell Tale Heart. The first (being the most common), is of a scoundrels individual, bent on taking advantage of an old, feeble, rich man. He then goes mad from the guilt of his murder, hearing the ever beating heart of his dead victim, and from this eventually confesses to the crime. The second is a more devastating tale of whoa, I think. There in, it is postulated that the old man is a particularly vicious and villainous individual, and his servant murders him after years of abuse and trauma. The trauma predating the murder causes not guilt, but rather a demonic hallucination of the servant’s master tormenting him there after, with the sound of his ever beating sinister heart.
This retelling spins it in a different third way. When the story open, the servant is already quite mad. One can only speculate as to why, but the old man seems kind enough. This suggests that the derangement of the servant was simply a part of his character. Because the servant was already mad, he superimposes a sinister nature over the old man, who in reality is quite harmless and even kind. The characteristics Poe prescribed the old man which originally made him seem sinister, are merely reflections of the servants deranged point of view.
Their use of the source material was already impressive, I should say, but the quality was pretty good too. It should be noted, this has the same production value as the movie Lo (2009). That means the production value is likely just a hair over ‘student film.’ Meaning I am grading on a bit of a curve, do to the shoe-string budget. But, like Welcome to the Horror Show, I don’t even have to as they tempered their lack of budget by focusing on the simplistic and getting it perfect.
So the acting is good for horror, the practical FX brilliantly used, the atmosphere well developed and smartly applied.
One of my favorite parts about this movie is actually the acting and how they reconcile the language of the narrator (the servant), with the modern setting. The flowery prose of the narrator from the original telling are a bit antiquated for a modern setting, so, they made that part of the servant’s derangement. He talks like an old timey theater actor as part of his madness.
This drives home the motivations behind his character and the reasoning for the plot as it unfolds. The servant holds himself in such high esteem, and considers himself a man of such impressive refinement, that he finds the decrepit characteristics of the old man to be disturbing or even disgusting. Indeed, the old man’s eye problems, are not just the signs of age, they are the mark of evil itself. This is how, through madness, the servant justifies his actions.
I did not think such an unique take on this classic work of Edgar Allan Poe was possible, and that alone is reason enough to watch this short.
Follow them on Twitter @telltalefilm, for the official release date!
Review can be found at: https://nightmarefeed.com/2020/04/22/found-on-the-internet-the-tell-tail-heart-a-short-film/
Monster Movie Happy Hour Review
By Monster Movie Happy Hour
April 21, 2020
“The Tell Tale Heart”, directed by McClain Lindquist, is a fast-paced, updated interpretation of Poe’s classic story. The storytelling choices are such that we hate to give any spoilers, but we can say this:
The entire film is quite stylish, with sumptuous lighting, skillful camera work and highly effective sound design.
The main character is enthusiastically played, with a contemptuous swagger, by Sonny Grimsley.
The scenes of violence are more than sufficiently bloody for a tale that revolves around the dismemberment of “the old man’s body” and removal of his still-beating heart.
The Monster Movie Happy Hour crew is not in the business of reviewing movies, in the usual sense. However, we feel compelled to say, “Cheers”, to both cast and crew; if you get a chance, we recommend you watch this frantic, 22-minute look at a descent into madness.
Keep your vulturous, film-covered eye on this movie’s availability by CLICKING HERE.
Review can be found at: http://www.monstermoviehappyhour.com/recommended
R.L. Terry ReelView Review
By Ryan L. Terry
April 17, 2020
Tell-tale signs of outstanding cinematic talent right here! I don’t often choose to write a formal review of short films for which I receive screeners. Usually, I Tweet my thoughts on the film when I receive a request from an eager filmmaker who’s interested in what Professor Horror, as I’ve come to be known on #FilmTwitter, has to say about his or her motion picture endeavor. Writer-Director McClain Lindquist crafts a wholly original expression of the familiar macabre tale. While there have been many adaptations of Edgar Allan Poe’s The Tell-Tale Heart, this is arguably one of the best and freshest interpretations of the masterful storytelling of Poe. I appreciate this adaptation for its fresh take on a familiar story whilst delivering the visceral horror and intellectually-driven elements of the bizarre tale of murder. Every nuance of Poe’s short story is depicted with sheer reverence for the source material, while delivering an original expression of the timeless literary work.
Lindquist reimagines this story through the lens of a David Lynchian approach (with the color pallet of David Fincher), delivering vibes of Muholland Drive. While there are clearly some cracks in the veneer related to the time period in which this story takes place, these cracks are insignificant enough not to detract from the overall cinematic experience. Lindquist should have selected either a modern or gothic period in which to set his adaptation. Actor Sonny Grimsley (what a great last name for horror) not only brings the words of The Narrator to the screen, but he talks to the audience with such incredible sincerity that the utter madness of it all is visualized beautifully. One of the points I hammer in my screenwriting class is dramatize don’t tell. Dramatizing means more than showing the audience the story, it means finding the conflict in every beat of every scene. Fortunately for this adaptation, Grimsley brilliantly dramatizes every word spoken in such a manner that you will be completely enveloped in the twisted tale to which he beckons you to listen.
Both the cinematography and stylistic editing are on point, and compliment the tone wonderfully. Although there are a number of standout moments from the film, I want to highlight how the duality of the narrator was expressed dramatically through the use of costuming and set design as well as a mirror. It would be all too easy for The Narrator to express his duality through verbal exposition (as this is taken from a short story), but the creative choice to couple the words of Poe with these striking images shows a strong knowledge of how to effectively go from page to screen. Often short films suffer from poorly executed technical elements, but I am pleased to report that all technical elements demonstrate an exemplary understanding of the art and science of cinematic storytelling. In addition to the technical elements is the haunting and unsettling score by Joel Pack. Lacking a true score is all too commonplace in many short films; not so with Lindquists’s The Tell-Tale Heart, Pack’s score is a character in and of itself. However, it never steals the scene, which allows the audience to become fully wrapped up in everything The Narrator says and does. I love seeing practical effects in all films, but especially horror. Thankfully, there are plenty of gruesome special makeup effects in this film for even the most insatiable appetite for gore, which never falling into the gratuitous category.
Lindquist certainly knows how to capture the madness in The Tell-Tale Heart. In many of Poe’s works, madness is often represented a lack of sufficient reasoning for committing murder or some other undesirable behavior. Lindquist illustrates The Narrator’s madness through the unreasonable rationale he uses to justify the murder of his roommate. Not only do we hear about the attempt at rationalization, it is dramatized for the screen. The only reason the narrator provides, in an attempt to justify the murder, is the simple fact that the roommate’s blind eye covered with a murky blue film bothers him a great deal–haunts him, even. He goes onto explain that he feels that he is being watched all the time. Being angered by the man’s eye is such a petty reason for the narrator to murder him, which proves that he is mentally unstable. Developing his plan for over a week, his madness is further represented through the meticulous premeditation of the method of murder. Furthermore, when The Narrator initially proposes that the “vulture eye” is his motive for murdering his roommate, he is not even fully certain that this was indeed his reason for committing the murder. And through the direction of Lindquist and the impeccable performance by Grimsley, we get into the mind of a madman in terrifying ways that are sure to induce nightmares.
Lindquist’s The Tell-Tale Heart is evidence of a future successful career as a horror filmmaker. I am eager to follow his filmography as he will hopefully use this short film as a springboard to write and direct original content, because we need more original storytellers in this sea of remakes and reboots.
Review can be found at: https://rlterryreelview.com/2020/04/17/telltaleheart/
Tales of Terror Review
By Steve Hutchison
April 16, 2020
Sonny Grimsley’s character, “The Narrator”, isn’t doing too well. He never gets the benefit of the doubt. There’s blood on his shirt. This is one of the few times The Tell-Tale Heart was ever told out of chronological order, taking into account that the audience has seen a movie or two. It’s also one of the few times this short story is adapted in color and in a modern setting.
The film looks like a thousand bucks. The narrator is unreliable because he’s a nutcase, and that’s the perfect excuse to numb us with mind-fucking eye-candy. This is, simply put, one of the best short-film adaptations of this age-old tale. This story has been around since 1843, and it’s still relevant. Take your pills and don’t kill people, y’all; that’s the message.
Most renditions of this adaptation leave the audience in a state of confusion, but there are no questions left unanswered with this one. No stone is left unturned and the ambiance is thicker than it ever was. Every edge is polished. Dialogue covers every plot hole possible. Unless you’re going to give this story the feature-length treatment, McClain Lindquist’s version is as good as it gets.
Review can be found at: https://terror.ca/movie/tt11622026
Mad About Horror Review
By Mark
April 2, 2020
Working within the Horror industry, we are sometimes given some interesting opportunities and we like nothing more than a sneaky preview.
We were recently contacted by the makers of a new short horror film, ‘The Tell Tale Heart’, which is based on the Edgar Allen Poe story of the same name. Whilst being familiar with Poe and his stories, I have to confess to not having read any of his works.
Answering a call to claims of hearing bloodcurdling screams, the police arrive at the home of an elderly gentleman but are greeted by a young man (the Narrator) who claims to be the live-in help.
As the officers question the young man we begin to question his sanity. What unfolds is a macabre tale of murder and deranged guilt.
The film’s time setting is ambiguous which serves to add to a feeling of madness. We are never able to get a full handle on the situation we are presented with.
Clever use of cinematography and lighting adds an uneasy hallucinogenic feeling which creates a new dimension to the narrative.
Furthermore, tension builds with the near constant heartbeat within the score, constantly reminding us of the “heart” of the story.
The bloody confession certainly does not hold back in all it’s gruesome glory. Again a great use of camera work, which lets us see the gore whilst not showing us everything.
As the tension and horror intensifies the Narrator continues to lose his grip on reality and we are left questioning what is real and what is fantasy.
A small cast lead by Sonny Grimsley is used to great effect and heightens a feeling of claustrophobia. Director McClain Lindquist provides an intense 22 minutes of insane storytelling.
Currently in consideration for a number of film festivals, the movie does not yet have a release date. However, Horror fans can find out more on their website www.telltalemovie.com and why not give them a follow on their Instagram page @telltalemovie?
Sleep tight
Mark
Review can be found at: https://www.madabouthorror.co.uk/blog/the-tell-tale-heart-short-movie-review.html
Hooked On Horror Review
By Adam Williams
April 1, 2020
So I was lucky enough to be sent a private screener for the upcoming short film- The Tell Tale Heart. The film, directed by McClain Lindquist, is a modern re-imagining of the classic Edgar Allen Poe story. As per the official synopsis-“Adapted from Edgar Allen Poe’s original text, this Original psychological thriller Story has been re-imagined in this mind-bending, pulse-pounding, bloody-disgusting short film.”
I’ve got to be honest this film surprised me, I really enjoyed it. Considering this story has been done again and again, I found myself looking at it through a fresh pair of eyes as the film makers re-told the classic psychological thriller. The cinematography and camera work was fantastic, it looked great. I don’t want to ruin the film but the use of certain shots, with quick, fast paced editing made for something really special. One or two moments reminded me of the quick cuts of Captain Howdy, as he randomly flashed up for a few times in The Exorcist. Certainly made more of an impact on the story, the audience and added more depth to the film’s central character- the narrator. The shots and editing combined with the acting managed to subtlely create a very real, and unsetlling, sense of dread and forboding throughout the film. It’s as if you slowly descend into madness with the narrator as he confesses and attempts to come to terms with the unspeakable things he has done.
The cast were great; had good chemistry and gelled together nicely on screen, however Sonny Grimsley (as the narrator) stole the show for me. He was phenomenal. Really sold the conflicted character and his descent into madness. His performance was never over the top, but for me was a lot more subtle, slow and steady. Grimsley managed to bring almost a sense of sympathy to the character, odd and slightly distrubing considering what his character had just done. The make-up and special effects were surpisingly good considering this is a low budget film, I won’t go into too much detail here but there’s some pretty great gory moments in it!
All in all a fantastic short film that embodies and pays tribute to Poe’s original story whilst re-imagining it. It does this brilliantly whilst taking inspiration from horror classics like The Exorcist, Psycho, The Shining, American Psycho & the classic TV Series The Twilight Zone. I often found myself debating whether or not this entire series of events was solely in his head or was actually happening. The film as a whole is undeniably horror, but it’s not a flat out in your face horror film. It’s more psychological; it makes you think and is a slow burning scare that will stick with you long after you’ve finished watching the film.
I’ve been told the film will be doing the film festival circuit and hopefully by the end of the year it should be available to stream and purchase online. We will keep you updated with a release date when we know. Believe me this is one you won’t want to miss.
#TheTellTaleHeart #ShortFilm #Review #EdgarAllenPoe #TellTaleHeart #ShortHorror
Review can be found at: https://hookedonhorror666.wixsite.com/hookedonhorror/post/the-tell-tale-heart-a-hooked-on-horror-review
Rue Morgue Review
By Bryan Christopher
March 20, 2020
There’s a lot to like about this short based on Edgar Alan Poe’s tale of a disturbed man’s dark confession. It visually translates the unnamed narrator’s descent into madness in a lot of interesting ways, it features a soundtrack as varied and manic as his mental state, and it also doesn’t hold back on the red stuff when he attacks the poor old man in his care. But by setting the story in modern day, Lindquist acknowledges something I’ve always noticed about Poe: although he’s a brilliant storyteller, my man tends to be a bit wordy. Watching the cops react to the narrator’s insistence on pontificating with Poe’s original text adds a layer of humor that I really appreciated. This one’s just a lot of fun.
Where you can find it: Making the festival rounds. Watch the trailer here.
Review can be found at: https://rue-morgue.com/short-cuts-the-short-horror-review-roundup-for-march/
Horror Italia Review
By Anthony Gulfo
March 10, 2020
The Tell-Tale Heart , known in Italy as The Revealing Heart is one of Edgar Allan Poe’s most famous stories . Published for the first time more than a hundred years ago, precisely in 1843 , the Revealing Heart has not yet ceased to fascinate and disturb . Proof of this is the short film produced by BassMint Productions : The Tell-Tale Heart (2020) , directed and written by McClain Lindquist.
The story of Edgar Allan Poe tells the story of a man insane and his obsession with an older man, especially for his eye glass. It is an obsession that slowly degenerates and, finally, leads the protagonist to commit the murder of the old man. But because of his madness the killer unmasks himself: he seems to feel the old man’s heart beating, beating and beating! The noise haunts him and leads him to appear before the authorities. The story is narrated in the first person, and is immediately captivating : the narrator (protagonist) presents himself as perfectly healthy and he cannot help reiterating it as soon as he has the opportunity. In this way, the reader is pushed to distrust him and to understand the reality of the facts through his own intellectual effort.
The short film , unlike the story, does not have a linear structure . Two policemen go to the madman’s house (played by Sonny Grimsley ) and ask for explanations about the disappearance of the old man. The madman, therefore, begins to explain the story. As he does so, the spectator witnesses the development of the obsession with the old man (James C. Morris), which leads to obsession, perversion and murder. The killer tells the story in the old man’s house and in the prison: the periods of time merge , creating a confusing whirlwind of images and events that, however, allow us to understand the unfolding of the facts. The chaosit also represents the mental state of the protagonist: a man devoured by an obsession, unable to order his thoughts.
The terrible visions of the madman, getting closer to the end, are increasingly bloody . It could be said that the short in question is push even beyond the story of Poe , giving an almost exaggerated form to the words and giving a shade gore . If in the story the old man’s heart merely palpitated, in fact, in the short film we see the madman holding a real quivering heart in his hand . And there is often a great abundance of blood.
Edgar Allan Poe , in his stories, hardly ever used blood to disturb. Rather, he endeavored to create atmospheres suitable for the purpose. He managed to do this by taking advantage of elements such as darkness , the banal ticking of a clock, the weaknesses and perversions of the human mind . Poe was able to convey a ‘ primitive ‘ terror , dealing with themes that have always concerned the nature of man. The Tell-Tale Heart of McClain Lindquist manages to unsettle combining atmosphere typically poeiana, but adding the violence and blood; elements, the latter, which have little to do with the Boston writer.
Consequently, The Tell-Tale Heart (2020) presents itself as a courageous product, which is inspired by Poe, but allows itself to go even further, revisiting the story in a more modern key.
Review can be found at: https://www.horroritalia24.it/the-tell-tale-heart-2020-recensione/
