Written and directed by Cat Watson, ‘Dance of the Porcelain Demons’ is a fantasy horror film that is loosely inspired by the revered classical ballet, ‘The Nutcracker’. Child starlet Anna Simunková leads the cast as Clara – an opulent single child whose behaviour descends after befriending two porcelain dolls; a soldier and a ballerina. Additional cast include Eva Zápotocká, Jakub Simunek, Emma Darwall-Smith and Joseph Capp. The film explores themes of psychology, paranormality and parenthood. A chilling, albeit prepossessing watch.
The enchantment of the 14-minute horror is that it deliberately refrains from quintessential trepidation. After discovering a mysterious gift one Christmas morning, Clara finds solace in the two momentarily inanimate objects. As the solider and the ballerina come to life, in a spectacularly eerie fashion, Clara’s engagement with reality and family life are diminished. The film grapples with different parenthood approaches; the loving mother and the anxiously concerned father. Without unravelling the concluding narrative, viewers can expect a troubling finish – wrapping up the genre in style.
Anna Simunková (Clara) delivers a profound performance from the offset – a commendable effort from a promising young actress. High praise to Eva Zápotocká (the Ballerina) and Jakub Simunek (the Soldier), their sinister portrayal is certain to keep viewers captivated and entertained from start-to-finish. Cat Watson (Writer/Director) has created a truly respectable short, constructed with elaborate production/costume design – finely captured by professional cinematography. Post-production, sound and music are equally exemplary. Highly recommended.
