The Tell Tale Heart (2020) Short Movie - Based on the original psychological thriller by Edgar Allan Poe.

Film Hooligans Review

By Jon Dunning

November 15, 2020

Slick, clean, & polished. This short looks and feels more expensive than most films I’ve seen this year. The camera work, music, & lighting is done to the 9’s. Lindquist shows promise as he channels filmmakers like Nicolas Winding Refn, Edgar Wright, & mixes those creative juices with early 00’s horror directors like Steve Beck & William Malone.

Gore and scares are on point. Some seem a little over the top and overtly thematic but actually feel needed to update the over century old telling of this very familiar tale.

Makeup and practical effects hit about 80% of the time. But the scenes are moving at such a frantic pace, that your brain doesn’t have time to hate the obvious old man make-up that looks like it was pulled right off the screen from Bad Grandpa. Setting was a little wonky. I wished it either was a complete modern retelling with updated dialogue, costumes, and performances. Or go all in with the period piece. What we got instead was an uneven setting where only the residences of the house seemed like they were from the period. There are only four actors/characters total and three of them felt like they were pulled out of a separate time completely. Although perhaps, Lindquist is making a creative statement, that the source material is timeless hence displaying multiple timelines affected by Poe’s work. Without context one can’t be sure. 

The performance from the Narrator was fun and charismatic, however it felt like it was meant for a stage play. But when he was murderous and/or in insane mod he really was excellent. Other performances were varying levels of good enough. Although special notes to Mikah Olsen (Officer Sharpe) that not only grounds the story in reality but acts as the audience POV as she is just as confused with the costumes and speak as we the viewers were in a modern setting. 

You can tell that the director is a musician because the music really whisked you away at breakneck speed from one bloody set piece to the next. It felt like a music video from The Used at times. In a good way.

So should you watch it? At a lightning paced 22 min run time and if you are a fan of the source material or not, this has something for every horror fan. So I would say an emphatic yes. 

This short has great bones and talented people in front and behind the camera. It seemed to be a passion project especially for Director McClain

Lindquist and I’m excited to see just what this madman brings to the butchers block next.

Review can be found at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JunKQTbCljw&feature=youtu.be

DATE November 15, 2020 CATEGORY Reviews
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The Tell Tale Heart (2020) Short Movie - Based on the original psychological thriller by Edgar Allan Poe.BASSMINT PRODUCTIONS presents a BMP production a BassMint Pros picture Introducing Sonny Grimsley as the Narrator Starring Teren Turner as Detective Tucker Starring Mikah Olsen as Police Officer Sharpe with James C. Morris as the Old Man Special Effects Supervisor Chris Hanson Executive Producer Herb Bangcock Line Producers Social Construct Directed by McClain Lindquist 1st Assistant Director Aspen Andrew 2nd Assistant Director / Dialogue John Lindquist Director of Photography Joe Olivas 1st Assistant Camera Mikkel Richardson Gaffer Jason Rogers Key Grip Mr. Jason Fife Production Manager Ryan Jensen Assistant to Producers / Craft Services April Stromberg On Set Assistant Eric John Set Dressings Michael Frazier, Lyndi Bone Editor Joel Petrie Assistant Editor Ryan Templeman Edit Bay Parking Garage Pictures Colorist Marshal Davis Technical Supervisor Kevin Johnson Crane Operator Glenn Fisk Script Supervisor John Lewis 2nd Assistant Camera Riley Weston, Alex Igidbashian Best Boy Bennett Duchin Prop Master Darren Johnson Technician / Best Boy Chris Johnson Sound Engineer Camden Chamberlain, Tad Chamberlain Music Joel Pack Wardrobe Janelle Corey Wardrobe Assistant Katie Carlson Still Photos Jeremy Poorte Production Assistant Erin Nordberg, Stephen St. Peter, Joey Bullock Directors Assistant Charles Lindquist Pre Production Assistant Alyson Gregory Motion Designer Tim Gray Sound Designer Jake Proctor Foley Angela Mason Sound Studio Strawberry Sound Special FX Makeup Immortal Masks, Dapper Cadaver Special FX Assistant Shawn Henry, Sarah Gamble Makeup Artist Ambria Powell Hair Stylist Nikki BreedLove Contact Lens Painter 9mmSFX Kevin Carter Digital Effects Brendan Wilson Wrangler Zack Valois, Jim Dix Production Designer Scenic Solutions Music Supervisor Meggi Pack Musicians Megan Allman, Gentry Densley, Joel Pack, Aaron Child, Sophie Blair Knifes Dirt Knap FX Timothy Ivan Miller Graphic Illustrator Chris Bodily Quality Control Chris Richards Dark Art Spiritcage, Stanislav Krawczyk, Maxime Taccardi Motion Art Peter Bainbridge/Mothpete Poster Art Andy Walsh Logo Christophe Szpajdel Post Production Artwork Sean Donahue Post Production Photography Grady at Electric Glass Media Relations Jared Christensen Police Technical Supervisor Chief Randy Watt Ogden Police Department Liaison Lieutenant Will Farr Traffic Control On Set Officer Robert Evans A1 Uniform Lori Cigany, Trichelle Marshall Officer Decal Ogden Stamp Company Utah State Officer Assistant Brian Stilson Studio Owner Bryan Clifton Studio Liaison Colin Becker Camera/Lens Rental Jack Allred Eccles Art Center coordinator Pat Poce, Travis Pate Yardcare Kenny Parker Legal Kristopher Greenwood Financial Advisor John Clower CPA Gary Brooks Payroll Nikki Thon Banking Operations Thais Medina, Ramsey Mansour, Rita Luacia Casting City Creek Media Screenplay Mcclain Lindquist Story by Edgar Allan Poe Filmed at Redman Movies & Stories in Salt Lake City, UT and Eccles Art Center in Ogden, UT
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The Tell Tale Heart (2020) Short Movie - Based on the original psychological thriller by Edgar Allan Poe.
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