Ashen, flavorless, unappetizing
The premise holds promise as a short story. I like Marcy as Anne Shepherd.
The twist is unexpected - so, well done there, I suppose. But it's also just... boring. If it's intended to be creepy - it's not. Those few frames are like looking at the album cover for a third-rate shock rock band; these moments of film are as flat and dull as it would appear as the image on a glossy insert.
Apart from the obvious thematic components of an abusive marriage and revenge served cold, I think what we're supposed to take away from this is some measure of visceral reaction from the sandwiches an increasingly put-upon Marcy prepares for Johnson (Peter Hodgins). Maybe someone who is extra squeamish, or who has a weak constitution, finds these sandwiches disgusting or cringe-worthy, and in so doing fulfills the presumed intent of the short. But I just found it rather ho-hum. No, I wouldn't eat those sandwiches. Yes, I see what the end result of Marcy's escalating behavior is. So what?
Horror as a genre is built on getting a response out of its audience, one way or another. For a viewer to be bored watching a horror feature of any length is the ultimate killing blow. 'Make me a sandwich' needed a lot more of... anything.
This is a waste of 3 minutes as a viewer. I hope the filmmakers didn't spend any longer than that making it.
The twist is unexpected - so, well done there, I suppose. But it's also just... boring. If it's intended to be creepy - it's not. Those few frames are like looking at the album cover for a third-rate shock rock band; these moments of film are as flat and dull as it would appear as the image on a glossy insert.
Apart from the obvious thematic components of an abusive marriage and revenge served cold, I think what we're supposed to take away from this is some measure of visceral reaction from the sandwiches an increasingly put-upon Marcy prepares for Johnson (Peter Hodgins). Maybe someone who is extra squeamish, or who has a weak constitution, finds these sandwiches disgusting or cringe-worthy, and in so doing fulfills the presumed intent of the short. But I just found it rather ho-hum. No, I wouldn't eat those sandwiches. Yes, I see what the end result of Marcy's escalating behavior is. So what?
Horror as a genre is built on getting a response out of its audience, one way or another. For a viewer to be bored watching a horror feature of any length is the ultimate killing blow. 'Make me a sandwich' needed a lot more of... anything.
This is a waste of 3 minutes as a viewer. I hope the filmmakers didn't spend any longer than that making it.
- I_Ailurophile
- Jun 17, 2021