Generic horror with Oz aspects
Created an account just to give this review. I am a huge fan of Frank Baum's books and the Return to Oz film (I haven't even bothered to watch the 2013 film), so I think my opinion holds some weight.
This feels like it was made because the Oz universe recently came into the public domain, and there was a desire to capitalize on it.
It has many Oz references (thank god they got the *silver* slippers right) but fails to *feel* like a dark Oz film. Oz is fantastical, even fun, but has that creepy edge to it that taints everything. This was perfectly captured in the Return to Oz film.
This short film (runtime of 28 minutes) just feels like a bunch of horror tropes strung together with Oz theming. There is the makings of a great story here, but I feel like the screenplay needed more work. It's a short film with limited time, but if less time was spent on being 'creepy' and more time was spent on tying things together and telling a story, it would have been much better.
TL;DR You don't need all the creepy music and flashing lights, the Oz universe is *already* creepy. Just tell a compelling story with good characterization in this universe and it will turn out good.
This feels like it was made because the Oz universe recently came into the public domain, and there was a desire to capitalize on it.
It has many Oz references (thank god they got the *silver* slippers right) but fails to *feel* like a dark Oz film. Oz is fantastical, even fun, but has that creepy edge to it that taints everything. This was perfectly captured in the Return to Oz film.
This short film (runtime of 28 minutes) just feels like a bunch of horror tropes strung together with Oz theming. There is the makings of a great story here, but I feel like the screenplay needed more work. It's a short film with limited time, but if less time was spent on being 'creepy' and more time was spent on tying things together and telling a story, it would have been much better.
TL;DR You don't need all the creepy music and flashing lights, the Oz universe is *already* creepy. Just tell a compelling story with good characterization in this universe and it will turn out good.
- mattdlegge
- Sep 20, 2023