The Blue Drum

... drum? Is that an actual saying or am I making this up? I kind of feel I have heard this before. But that is a thing with memories - if it's sayings or people we miss(ed). And that is the segway to this short movie - no pun intended as always of course.

Losing a loved one is never easy. I think I saw a teaser for this at a horror film festival last year. It could have been a different one that has a similar tone - grief but also trying to figure out a way to close a chapter of ones life ... to move forward! Which is only possible if you can say goodbye ... or find something out about yourself or a relative ... it is the latter in this one - drum(roll) please! No pun intended once again to close things off.

I don't know if this made any difference to the sound quality that another reviewer here mentioned, but I watched this on Netflix and had no issues with the sound. I WAS watching with headphones on, though, so...

Anyway, it's an intriguing little short film, capably shot and written and acted and all that, my only 'gripe' being that I'd have liked even just another 5 minutes or so? Heck, even something about the length of a traditional Creepshow half-episode would be nice. You know, just to flesh it out a little bit more, give the cast a bit more room to work and the story a bit more room to breathe.

Honestly, though, it's good enough as it is.

A young woman , front to the expressions of not exactly simpathy of her aunt for the late brother and the desire of her boyfrient to help her, discovers, after the funeral of her father, a terible secret about family past.

A photo album, a sound under floor, a door and the message from her mother are basic pieces of a night not exactly comfortable but, in tradition of Spanish horror, offering the naked truth in clear - precise manner.

More than a simple good short horror, it is a profound inspired game of director with memories, imagination and emotions of viewer. And it works very well, easy feeling the states of Leticia.

At her father's wake, Leticia clashes with her Aunt Norma, who criticises her father, claiming him to have been a poor excuse for a brother and husband. Leticia feels a void for the mother she never knew, and searches the house for answers.

I wish I'd checked the running time before I started watching it, by the time I'd gotten into it, and started enjoying it, the end credits were rolling, so just be mindful that this is 16 minutes long, and definitely not a ninety minute movie.

For a short, it's very effective, a good story, good development, and an interesting and surprising conclusion.

My advice is to ignore the negative reviews, this short is worth your time, enjoy it over a coffee. There's nothing here to thrill or shock, but it's a decent watch.

Crystal Hernandez doe as fine job as Leticia.

6.5/10.

If this was a full length movie I would watch it. The story and characters were good and it was shaping up to be a solid horror thriller.

I think this movie short was great but it would be nice to have a little more backstory.

Still as a short film it worked and the ending was a real kicker. It just didn't have the time to really ramp up the chills.

Despite not being a longer film. The acting and story were great and I did like the way it all unfolded and then wrapped up at the end.

I do hope the creator goes back and does a longer and more in depth version as I think it would be a horror mystery worth watching.