I’m happy to see that Force of Nature Films is still making new and original shorts. Previous projects, including my favorite Rawhead, are known for their classy presentation and professional production value. The latest short on the catalogue, Visitor, is still professionally produced, but I was happy to see it move away from glamorous mansions to a fertility clinic. A change of scenery was needed to keep things interesting and I’m in awe that writer, director and producer Roger Sampson was able to get his hands on a fully functioning medical office. He’s always able to book fantastic locations that make his projects a step above the rest as far as locations go. Props also go out to Aaron Sparks for his role as co-producer and DP.
Another one of Sampson’s typical production styles is finding the best actors or actresses for the job. In Visitor, Ashley Maure plays Dr. Price, a fertility doctor who starts receiving creepy text messages from a blocked number. Ms. Maure was engaging, charismatic and pulled out all the stops when it was time for the horror to begin. Her other credits include a cameo in recently released sequel Bad Kids of Crestview Academy and an appearance in an episode of “True Nightmares.” Visitor is a tremendous showcase of her talent and proves that she’s deserving of much bigger roles. The other performers – Gwendolynn Murphy, Kim Patel, Kristin Sutton and Stacey Lea – were great, too, but Maure really stole the show. The subject material could only be carried by women, and it was smart for Roger to write and cast such strong ladies.
Blending technology with horror is becoming a common occurrence, especially now that technology is evolving at such a rapid pace. One Missed Call, Pulse, The Ring… Roger Sampson tries to explore the connection between electronics and scary movies, but his story isn’t 100% concrete in Visitor. It starts out almost like a slasher flick, but then it dives into the world of the supernatural; absolutely in the realm of possession. The ending of this short is open ended and viewers are going to be left wondering what the Hell is going on. Who or what is responsible? It should be noted that Visitor is a proof of concept short, so that makes sense. Should it be adapted into a feature length project, I’d totally be down to see what that movie is all about because this ten minute title did a good job of grabbing my attention. The story thus far is well produced, emotional and suspenseful. Here’s hoping a Visitor stops by again!
Final Score: 8 out of 10.
