There is an art to making effective short films and challenges filmmakers can face when compared to making feature length films. One of the challenges in making a short horror/thriller is bringing the level of intensity up quickly, without neglecting the story. Giving viewers enough insight into the characters to make us care while putting us on edge is no easy feat, especially in under ten minutes. For the second time this year, director and writer Wesley Alley excelled at doing just that.
(To read about the first short film we reviewed from Alley earlier this year, see our review for SockMonster.)
Good Girl opens as a couple, Charles (Zack Ward: A Christmas Story, Resident Evil) and Helen (Amanda Markowitz: The Voices, Love Meet Hope), sit for an anniversary meal that Helen has prepared. Charles is a very uptight and seemingly controlling man, while Helen is just a bit too anxious to make us believe that there isn’t a lot more going on that we are not aware of just yet. As the events unfold, Good Girl walks a fine line between romance and brutal dominance, with Ward being both seductive and terrifying.
The performances by Ward and Markowitz are raw and intense, and it honestly made me uncomfortable to watch. This is not said as a negative towards the film in any way. This is exactly what you should feel while watching Good Girl, and Alley and the cast execute it flawlessly. In just over eight minutes, the film makes you feel a range of emotions before ending on the perfect note.
Good Girl is not yet available for the masses. However, if you get a chance to see the film while making its festival run, do not pass up the opportunity. It is well worth your time.
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