Conventional

With her fame fading after being replaced by a younger model, a former scream queen takes to the convention circuit to maintain some semblance of relevance in this dark satirical comedy from writer-director-star Karen Gillan. Sporting a Halloween-store set of fake pouty lips, the former 'Doctor Who (2005-)' and current(?) 'Marvel' start draws on her own experience with overly enthusiastic - and vocal - fanbases to craft a bleak and fairly damning representation of the industry. As well as commenting on fan bases, the piece takes aim at the way in which the industry often coldly tosses actors aside once they reach a certain age and it also looks at what fame - and the subsequent lack of it - can do to a person's mental health. 'Conventional (2015)' bites off quite a bit and it makes its points well, the simplicity of its narrative enhancing its poignancy rather than dampening it. It's also a good showcase for Gillan's acting abilities, as she delivers a strong performance that's highlighted by some tragic monologues. Its tone balances humour and horror well, and the short is ultimately as entertaining as it is disturbing. It's a solid effort overall, even if there seemingly isn't all that much to it.

The smile of B- movie horror actress, her confessions, signs of her deep frustration. And to expect the end in the form who is presented. The cinematography, the minimalism, the atmosphere - each represents the fine form for a short film about an industry, succes and fall. You know each detail but the virtue of film is to remind familiar slices as nice travel across cultural references to the subject.

Karen Gillan's writing/directing debut is an absurd dark comedy about a b-movie horror actress who can't get roles anymore and resorts to horror conventions to make a few dollars from appearances and autographs... and so on. The grotesquerie on all sides, the humor, and the perfect tone of the short all indicate that greater things may be to come from Gillan as a writer/director/actress.

The framing, horror lighting, restrained hand-held camera, and assured shot sequences prove that Gillan and cinematographer Zach Voytas partnered well. The combination of that partnership with Gillan's mature writing style and her acting prowess make Conventional far more than a small-channel youtube find. It's a hidden gem and a great dark comedy short.