The Shaman

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.

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 short production is an outstanding piece of artwork for who is able to follow up the movie plot and understand its deep meanings.

It is indeed a mind-blowing short movie, bringing together in a more insightful way a little bit of previous ideas from other Sci-Fi productions, like some concepts previously presented in The Sixth Sense, The Matrix, The Zero Theorem, Iron Sky, Jupiter Ascending, Edge of Tomorrow, Interstellar, etc. The special effects are really nice for a small production, and the actors' performance is captivating for such a complex and short story.

I have watched it several times and will watch it many other times to come! I my view, this film enters in the category blockbuster with brains and soul.

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)

Powerful story about past, manipulation, fight and tools of victory, about new status of shamans and about vulnerability. A beautiful film because it is one of rich roots, behind the technical solutions. More than a Sci Fi in clothes of medieval, it is a great work of nuances. A film about power and self defy. Well crafted, well done.