Director(s) – Vincent Gallagher and Luke Adey
Starring – Tom Grimley and Imogen Stubbs
Release Date – 2013
Shorts are one of the most powerful outlets when it comes to expressing emotions or sharing ideas. Sure, a director can make a full length film but if he has a specific message to convey it may get lost somewhere along the way. That is one of the many benefits of making a short. Shorts are simple and always get straight to the point regardless what the topic is.
That brings me to the short Sicko by directors Vincent Gallagher and Luke Adey. They reached out to me via the Horror Society Facebook page and I jumped at the chance to review to it. I also want to take a second to thank Vincent for sending me the link to the film.
**Spoiler Alert**The film begins with a man wearing plastic underwear walking into a shed with a nudie mag. He rubs one out and then rubs his nut nectar into his already grimy hair. He then proceeds to place an “X” over the young model in the magazine before taping it to his wall.
We then meet a lady of the night (prostitute) as she works the street trying to make some cash to pay for her everyday expenses. Sadly, she crosses paths with this sex crazed maniac and he kills her. He then proceeds to drag her body off to an area where it is presumed he will have his way with it.**Spoiler Alert**
I normally try not to review shorts that run less than 15 to 20 minutes typically because they lack any real depth and story. However, I do come across some that do have the depth and story. Sicko has both those things and a hell of a lot more which is impressive considering how short it is. Sicko is able to take the viewer into an extremely sick and perverse tale where morals are thrown out the window to make room for the disgusting and depraved.
It is hard to really determine the acting in this one due to the film’s running time and the way the film is made. Both cast members looked good in their roles but due to the lack of character interactions I will skip this portion of my review. The story is so dark and taboo that I can see many viewers turning away with disgust. Who ever wrote this story is a real horror genius or one sick bastard and I respected them either way.
Finally, those looking for great on screen kills and special effects will not find them here. However, the viewers will find one disturbing film that goes against the mainstream to deliver one horrifying film experience. Overall, this film is vile and disgusting…and I fucking loved it.
