Quiet, creepy, and a little enigmatic. 'After her' is a swell little sci-fi thriller that leans heavily on atmosphere.
The natural world all around us is beautiful, but walk into the woods even a short distance from a place we've lived for years and it suddenly can become mysterious, disorientating, and even a little frightening. And if we see something in those woods that looks like it belongs, but is still a little off - well, I know that would sound my alarms.
To this 'After her' adds sharp, quick editing that cuts between otherwise innocuous images in such a way as to suggest something unnatural. Visual effects further build on that, giving way to a definite sense of unease.
Natalia Dyer and Christopher Dylan White give great if understated performances, their expressions seeming slightly dulled and unfocused - almost mirroring the overall picture quality throughout. That's hardly a mark against them, mind you - it's just another aspect of 'After her' that lends itself to the atmosphere.
If I have any particular criticism to make it's that the ending seems a little unclear, not helped by effects layered over the characters' lines that - at least to my ears - makes them more difficult to discern. I do wish the writing were a bit less amorphous, but at the same time, the uncertainty built into the ending also seems rather deliberate. What exactly did Callum experience? What will happen next? We're not entirely sure - but neither, it seems, is he.
'After her' is easy to find online and at only 14 minutes in length, it's a fast, easy watch. It's quite enjoyable, and as ever I appreciate the air of mystery and tension that pervades the feature. Something about it still feels a little off to me, but that won't stop me from recommending it if you come across it.
