Andrea D’Amario’s ‘The Poem’ taps into the modern teenage obsession with going viral and dares to ask: what if going viral came at a horrifying cost? With slick cinematography by Matt Labra and two committed performances from Nick Patel and Curtis Leung, this horror short takes a classic summoning ritual and twists it into something unnerving.
Blake and Ryan, best friends and social media addicts, are on the hunt for a big hit. Candles flicker, a phone camera rolls, and the boys recite a poem in a bid to summon the infamous “Man in Black”. The setup is pure teenage horror – with tension that escalates. When the flames abruptly snuff out, the film shifts gears from playful to a full-blown nightmare.
D’Amario understands horror pacing. The build-up is tight, but the real chill sets in once Blake vanishes – his voice, calling Ryan deeper into the unknown. The basement looms, and by the time the film reaches its final moments, ‘The Poem’ has landed itself as a well-crafted tale of terror with a unforeseen twist.
Technically, the film has praiseworthy craftsmanship. Labra’s cinematography is sleek, the lighting and color grading amplify the eerie atmosphere, and the sound design is of a solid standard. Patel and Leung deliver performances that feel natural yet heightened, embodying both the cocky thrill-seeking and sheer panic of teenage fear.
With its chilling premise and skilled execution, ‘The Poem’ is a sharp, suspenseful horror short that understands both its genre and its audience. Highly recommended.
