Pictured

Well I really do like the concept but it doesn't have a very strong finish.

Pictured is a short horror film by David Sandberg, the creator of Lights Out; both the short and full length feature movie. Short after short, Sandberg has shown and proved that he is a master of horror and, in my opinion, deserves a lot more full feature movies to his name. Pictured is one of those shorts I would like to see as a full feature movie.

Pictured is the story of a young woman who seems to be haunted by a picture on her wall. As time passes, perhaps there's more to the picture than the woman seems.

This was brilliant. I found myself on edge and looking to the side of the screen as I watched this. It was absolutely amazing. The suspense was real, and the lack of audio and sound really added to this. I had goosebumps as I watched this. I've watched this one two or three times now, and it was absolutely stunning each time. I'd love to see an extension of this, and to learn more on it. The make up used in this was also absolutely stunning and Sandberg did amazingly with this one. A definite eight out of ten and a solid recommendation.

Pictured is built around a solid concept. The girl in the photo is genuinely creepy, and while the idea itself isn't new, this short film uses it effectively. The ending, in particular, was unexpected-kudos to the director for that! I was fully expecting a very different conclusion.

That said, a couple of questions linger. Why would the protagonist have a picture like that on her wall in the first place? It's a strange and unsettling image that clearly doesn't fit her artistic taste. I don't know anyone who would choose to display something like that. Also, why does she keep pushing her luck when it's obvious that something supernatural and threatening is going on? A normal person would react very differently, rather than willingly turning herself into a walking sacrifice to evil.

I enjoyed pictured. Its a nice short movie. It play with a small trick with the hand and finally something weird happened. That was pretty cool to see and it have a nice ending.

'Pictured (2014)' once again proves that concept is key when it comes to short horror. These films rely on a single idea to provoke their scares, so they have to makes sure it's a good one. Luckily, this is. The concept of a character in a painting moving whenever it isn't being looked at isn't exactly new, but it is entertaining. There's a lot of potential here. Even if the short is a tad slow and ultimately ends on a bit of a whimper, it's still a confident and well-crafted affair that uses tried-and-tested techniques to build genuine suspense. 6/10.