This is fantastic.
I'm not familiar with the novella of the same name that 'The octopus nest' is adapted from, but I'm very curious now to check it out. John Michell's guiding direction betrays no hint at where the small story is headed until the camera reveals it outright. Maybe it's just me, but it seems like he favors shots that emphasize close quarters, a superb choice that makes the creeping unease of the premise all the more vivid. The notable shadow and dim lighting that pervades the short certainly serves that same purpose, as does the subtle, hair-raising music from Jon Clarke.
The progression of the narrative, deceptive in its initial simplicity, is impressive as it unfolds over 18 minutes. Claire (Emily Beecham) and Timothy (Jonjo O'Neill) immediately express disbelief at the notion their babysitter presents to them, resolving into rising shock as the plain evidence sits before them. The unmistakable appearance in old photos of the unknown woman, again and again, stirs a small bit of tension between the couple, leading to Claire's further investigation - and far greater, more troubling revelations.
Beecham is by all means the star through it all, and she demonstrates an admirable poise, and outstanding capability, in her portrayal of Claire's swirling mixture of emotions. Among those few features of Beecham's that I've seen to date, in my mind 'The octopus nest' especially represents a great demonstration of her skills as an actress. In the crucial last few minutes, her delivery of Claire's pivotal last two lines is exquisite in the casualness that belies a more severe earnestness.
I viewed it once, and liked it. I viewed it twice, and loved it. 'The octopus nest' is surprisingly dark, but also exceedingly clever in the crafting of its narrative, with the very beginning written into the very ending. This is well worth finding to watch online, and all involved are to be commended.
