The Shaman

I watch a lot of short films; partly because I do like the way that the short form has less pressure which means people can experiment more than they could be a bigger feature film, but also the short time means I can see contained work despite a busy schedule. As a result of this I see a lot of sci-fi shorts that are looking to be the next big blockbuster by getting picked up by a studio. Some of these proof-of-concepts are pretty good, and deliver on their own terms as a short film too; however many of them are little more than special effects showreels that deliver nothing to the viewer of the short. I tend not to like them for this very reason.

With The Shaman, there is an element of that. We are thrown into a world that I really didn't understand, and into a battle of effects and noise. So far so dull I was thinking, however the main body of the short is a dialogue scene which is actually quite a good idea and had potential to make the film more than just telling me the producers had access to some very powerful computers. It doesn't quite manage to deliver on this potential though, and the film ended up being one that I liked for trying to be more than just the usual 'sci-fi pitch' short film, but yet it never really sparkled as the design and smart central scene device suggested it would.

As a long-time reader of Science Fiction, I have long been interested in the mythological "hero". The Shaman presents a hero that is deeply disturbed, but must perform for the good of the people.

The movie is intriguing, cinematic, and very moving. I was fascinated by the use of the mystical combined with technology, and wish to know more about the background of this situation - what happened to cause the war? Who are the Shamans (there are obviously more of them)? What is the connection between music and magic, particularly regarding Lene and the Shaman? How did machines get souls? What do the facial markings mean? Who was the man in white?

This movie prompts all sorts of imaginative contemplation, which I certainly enjoyed.

The acting is true to the roles. Lene most definitely demonstrated care, concern, love, and support to the Shaman. The Shaman was portrayed as a stunted personality due to his history and training. However, the human was still there - in the actor's eyes. The supporting actors exhibited the awe and responsibility to protect the Shaman and their dedication to the war.

Marco Kalantari's dark, chaotic setting and the overall tone of the movie were amazing. I truly hope to see more of this world in the future, but if there are no further explanations, my mind will provide wondrous ones.

Netherworld is the most mysterious place for human being. Thanks to Director Marco Kalantari, with his brilliant sci-fi talents, showing us his imaginary Netherworld through the journey of the Shaman.

I believe the movie is prima facie a success with its excellent cast, soul stirring music, meticulous production, and most importantly, the incredible and invaluable post-production. No wonder its trailer had attracted 4 millions of views worldwide before the complete version of the short movie was actually launched.

I especially like the scene that Joshua the Shaman "battles" with the Machine. It is not a physical confrontation at all. It is a battle between the souls of the Machine and the Shaman, the white and the dark and a man and a woman. I think the attempt of their manipulating each other's soul is the highlight of the movie. I especially like the interior dialogues of the Shaman, analyzing the strategies of the adverse party – Seduction, Diversion and Evasion.

I really appreciate the efforts of the team. It is Best of the Best and it definitely worths far more than 5 millions views. I have no reservation to recommend it to my friends and family and all the movie-lovers, and sincerely hope there will be a 120-min version in the near future?

This is really spectacular work. I've been busy all day with the stupidest doctors so I'm glad I finally had time for this short. Visuals are insane! There's actually a great plot with enough material for a feature film. The year is 2204 and humans have been in war for years. They rely on huge intelligent battle machines to fight. Shamanism has returned and they have special senses of the "unseen" and "beyond." This is a story of a Shaman battling a battle machine. He and his group are sent onto the battlefield and into the machine where he psychically links to it. Their psychological battle is one for the ages and the end is so damn satisfying.

Brilliant, top to bottom. I can not even begin to grasp the massive amount of work that clearly has gone into this. You don ́t see a short with this amount of production value that also has an intricate story that often. This amazing short proves you can create an unforgettable experience in a faction of the time and expense of a'Hollywood' movie. Beautiful, powerful, and poignant. Great visuals and camera aside, the lead actors were just outstanding. Danny Shayler's portrait of the shaman is intense and vivid. Given the short running time - 17 minutes - he is allowing us a surprisingly deep insight into the soul of this conflicted man. A lot of Sci-Fi short films try to show off CGI and visual effects. What interests me about Shaman is the powerful psychology, direction and theme. I can't help but love the combination of old and new. It's kind of a precautionary tale for us to remember our past in order to progress forward into a new era. It's truly a fascinating subject. Combining the technological with the mystical. There's a bit of Matrix in this, and a bit of Inception maybe, but Shaman never crosses the copycat line and stays at all times original. Would love the entire score....and a larger and longer treatment of the concept (same actors, please)