‘In This Is Not My Beautiful House’, writer/director Mark Tompkins offers a tightly wound psychological drama that unravels in broad daylight. Set in a pristine suburban home, the film follows a man, played by Brian Rich, who breaks into someone else’s home.
As he moves throughout the home, there’s a growing sense of dread. He doesn’t rifle through drawers or cause destruction. Instead, he absorbs the space with quiet familiarity and buried rage. The voice-over narration by Katherine Nathe is chillingly composed, unfolding memories of betrayal, loss and emotional rot that seep through the walls.
Nathaniel Regier’s cinematography is striking. There’s not a frame wasted. Each shot is deliberate and still, echoing the psychological trap the man finds himself in. The sound design is equally precise. The performances are understated and effective. Rich is excellent in his restraint, while Erika Mugglin and Jose Infante, though more peripheral, add to the layered tension.
What begins as a slow-burning tale of intrusion and revenge takes an unexpected turn. The twist doesn’t feel like a gimmick. It recontextualises everything. The unease shifts shape.
This is a film that sits with you after watching. Tompkins doesn’t waste a second. Every element is working toward a singular, unsettling effect. This is not your average short film. It’s something far more refined and far more disturbing. Highly recommended.
