by Henry Pham
What’s understandable is that blood is scary and unsettling for younger viewers these days, but when you come across this short, all bets are off. It handles all the usual problems and predicaments, even though they can be thrown out the door. Marge is a new 15-minute short film directed by Julia Kern and Michael Prieto. It follows an adult woman named Sadie, who, after an accidental pregnancy, is thrust into her memories of being raised by her mother, Marge, who is a serial killer in her childhood.
Rachel Matthews (Happy Death Day films) stars as the title character, with Liv Davenport and Devon Ross portraying Sadie at different ages. Each of the stars’ character development is well followed. The film follows Sadie, a woman in her twenties, who is overwhelmed after discovering she is pregnant. This revelation prompts her to reflect on her relationship with her mother, Marge, whom she addresses by her first name.
As a child, Sadie dreaded the first day of school while Marge offered improvised advice between cigarette puffs. The narrative shifts when unsettling noises come from a baby monitor, leading Marge to the basement—a place young Sadie never dared to enter. When Sadie finally does, she uncovers her mother’s secret as a serial killer. Now, as she faces motherhood herself, Sadie must confront parallels between her own life and her mother’s.
The directors demonstrate strong command of 1990s camerawork, creating a visual style reminiscent of classic 1980s and 1990s horror films while leaning into psychological thriller elements. The crew definitely did their homework to craft this story into something nostalgic. Matthews delivers a compelling performance, building on her roles in Happy Death Day (and its sequel) and Disney’s Frozen 2. Davenport and Ross are also well cast, each bringing nuance to their portrayals of Sadie. Ross effectively conveys her character’s disdain, while Davenport brings energy to her role, akin to many child actors across different movie genres.
The cinematography, pacing, and editing are good, but the chemistry between those two actresses is crucial to the film. These two never lost an inch to each other, even though it’s a horror-thriller project. I know horror films are not my thing; as mentioned in my previous reviews, I know every professional film critic is entitled to watch every genre they can (myself included) regardless of their tastes. This short is interesting, pleasing, and a must-watch, especially for those who love horror-thriller films.
Comments