Even
Written and directed by Ben Jurin
FX by Jane Rose
Featuring Ean Sheehy and Bruce Kronenberg
2008, www.spectaclegrinder.com
Edward and Barnabas sit at a table, eating what appears to be some very undercooked meat. Edward (Ean Sheehy) is dazed, confused, and looks a little sick. Barnabas (Bruce Kronenberg) has a hearty appetite and is more than eager to talk about Edgar’s recent loss. Edgar’s father was the owner of a pharmaceutical company who was found murdered by an overdose of his own experimental pain-killing drug. Edgar is the prime suspect, but it’s really Barnabas the police should be worried about. As Edgar slowly begins to realize where he is and what he’s eating, and with whom, a really macabre epiphany comes to him and the viewer – maybe he’s getting what he deserves...
Some truly stellar acting and great photography are accentuated by the detailed (and morbid) special effects, both practical and digital. For a low budget film, the production value is high, and the gross-out factor is great. Professional actors deliver the short dialog with fervor and believability, making the heightened climax eerily shocking.
Unfortunately, the story behind the dialog never seems to really take shape. Even is a short with a strong message behind it – one that doesn’t really come through. While it’s meant to screw with your head with plot twists and philosophical arguments, it feels hollow somehow as though there is no truth to what the characters are saying. Barnabas’s obvious insanity makes him, and his “project”, nothing more than the ravings of a lunatic while Edgar himself, though not a perfect character, doesn’t seem deserving of the horrific fate Barnabas has laid out for him.
Jane Rose works her FX magic
Jurin’s direction is flawlessly strong and effective; it might be the writing skills that need some polishing. With good actors and a contained environment controlled by talented crew, Jurin should have been able to conjure up strong emotions and a definite point to Edgar’s death. He didn’t.
As far as the horror aspect goes, Even is very creepy with a wonderful crescendo heightened by Rose’s awesome FX abilities. There’s no skimping on blood or violence here – it’s disgusting without being overdone and tacky.
