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Heathens

Synopsis

After a woman discovers her husband’s secret affairs, she teams up with his mistress and bonds over their shared thirst for revenge.

Review

4/5
A tense thriller that delves into the consequences of infidelity.
Written and directed by Marlene Emilia Rios, ‘Heathens’ is a short horror thriller that delves into a husband’s marital affair and the consequences of his infidelity. Brad Johnson portrays the narrative antagonist, Dylan, with Rosella Doda as his long-suffering wife, Emma. Jo Shirley completes the cast as Dylan’s mistress (Anna). The film explores themes of revenge and female empowerment.

The 5-minute film opens with Emma discovering Dylan’s adultery. As the narrative unravels, Emma, along with Anna (the mistress), inflict fatal torture on Dylan – sparking vengeance and retribution for his deception and disloyalty. ‘Heathens’ is a passionate thriller that will keep viewers gripped until the closing credits.

Heathens Short Film e1662370022269
Despite having a limited run-time, with little character dialogue, the short manages to engross viewers with its riveting plot-line – filled with sexuality and torment. The entire cast deliver fine performances throughout, particularly Rosella Doda (Emma). Technically, the film is well-crafted with industry-level lighting, cinematography and sound. Post-production is equally commendable. The film would benefit with a greater backstory to evoke viewer empathy with the protagonist, but nonetheless, the film is delivered to a decent standard. Marlene Emilia Rios has created a stylish short that will captivate, thrill and entertain viewers. Highly recommended.

Cast/Crew

Director(s): Marlene Emilia Rios
Writer(s): Marlene Emilia Rios
Cast: Brad Johnson, Jo Shirley, Rosella Doda
Producer(s): Calif Chong, Jamie Forrest, Marlene Emilia Rios
Director of Photography: Hsien Yu Niu
Animation (if applicable):

Specifications

Genre: ,
Subjects: , , , , , , ,
Collections:
Country:
Language: English
Year: 2021
Runtime: 6 min

Recommended

4/5

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Cast/Crew

Director(s): Marlene Emilia Rios
Writer(s): Marlene Emilia Rios
Cast: Brad Johnson, Jo Shirley, Rosella Doda
Producer(s): Calif Chong, Jamie Forrest, Marlene Emilia Rios
Director of Photography: Hsien Yu Niu
Animation (if applicable):

Specifcations

Genre: ,
Subjects: , , , , , , ,
Collections:
Country:
Language: English
Year: 2021
Runtime: 6 min

Recommended

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  • United States
  • 2021
Senior year of high school takes an unexpected turn when friendship is sacrificed because of jealousy. A group of friends visit a home that has blood in its history but the chance to live forever keeps them coming….
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A young filmmaker enters a local film competition, and his stepdad, who is also a filmmaker, has the “perfect” idea for an award-winning movie, but things don’t quite go as planned in this quirky comedy with some horror vibes…

Heathens

Synopsis

After a woman discovers her husband’s secret affairs, she teams up with his mistress and bonds over their shared thirst for revenge.

Review

A tense thriller that delves into the consequences of infidelity.

4/5
Written and directed by Marlene Emilia Rios, ‘Heathens’ is a short horror thriller that delves into a husband’s marital affair and the consequences of his infidelity. Brad Johnson portrays the narrative antagonist, Dylan, with Rosella Doda as his long-suffering wife, Emma. Jo Shirley completes the cast as Dylan’s mistress (Anna). The film explores themes of revenge and female empowerment.

The 5-minute film opens with Emma discovering Dylan’s adultery. As the narrative unravels, Emma, along with Anna (the mistress), inflict fatal torture on Dylan – sparking vengeance and retribution for his deception and disloyalty. ‘Heathens’ is a passionate thriller that will keep viewers gripped until the closing credits.

Heathens Short Film e1662370022269
Despite having a limited run-time, with little character dialogue, the short manages to engross viewers with its riveting plot-line – filled with sexuality and torment. The entire cast deliver fine performances throughout, particularly Rosella Doda (Emma). Technically, the film is well-crafted with industry-level lighting, cinematography and sound. Post-production is equally commendable. The film would benefit with a greater backstory to evoke viewer empathy with the protagonist, but nonetheless, the film is delivered to a decent standard. Marlene Emilia Rios has created a stylish short that will captivate, thrill and entertain viewers. Highly recommended.

Recommended

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