There’s something unnervingly magnetic about ‘I Know You‘, Lucca Vieira’s haunting short horror that crawls into your psyche and keeps you hooked. This is an unsettling meditation on obsession that oozes with menace.
Lakesanne Deal delivers a strong performance as Hannah Myers, a young actress trying to rehearse in peace when her evening is shattered by the arrival of Mary, a fan played with a chilling edge by Jolene Mafnas. What begins as an uncomfortable interaction soon spirals into a nightmare, as Mary’s presence turns from awkward to downright predatory.
Vieira’s craftsmanship is on full display here. The script is sharp, balancing psychological complexity with a relentless sense of dread. His direction is purposeful and steeped in tension. The cinematography, also by Vieira, is flawless, capturing the intimate terror of Hannah’s unraveling with an eye for detail that feels almost voyeuristic. Paired with the meticulously eerie sound design, the film creates an atmosphere so oppressive it’s hard to look away.
Deal and Mafnas are a perfect match, their performances brimming with unspoken fear and menace. Deal pulls you into Hannah’s vulnerability, while Mafnas oscillates between pitiable and petrifying with unnerving ease. Expect a shocking climax that leaves you reeling. It’s one of those horrors that ensures the story will stay with you.
‘I Know You’ is a freaky exploration of the darker side of admiration, where the line between fandom and fixation becomes terrifyingly blurred. A sharp, stylish, and deeply unsettling short, cementing Vieira as a director to watch.
