Review by M.G. Wood

Written and Directed by Kenneth J. Hall

Produced by Roy Knyrim

Executive Producer Duane A, Sikes

Co-Produced by Michael Su, Mike Gaglio, Daniel Martone

Director of Photography Michael Su

Music by Dead House Music

The fact that movies have grown increasingly bad in recent years, makes you wonder why movies have also gotten longer. TRANSFORMERS clocks in at 2 hr. and 24 min., with a “story” that cold have been told in about 12. Holy crap, even good movies sometimes need a snip or two.

The “short” film, which can run 5 minutes or more, usually due to budget or time constraints or simply because it takes only 5 minutes to tell the story. Shorts are almost always fast-paced, compelling vignettes that can pack more into a matter of minutes than the average over-blown “feature-length” film.

Two of the best horror films in recent years, John Carpenter’s CIGARETTE BURNS and Lucky McKee’s SICK GIRL were shorts shot for the Masters of Horror series in 2004, both clocking in at right around 60 minutes.

The bottom line is, there is no bottom line, financially speaking. Short films are much like poetry to a writer: it takes great talent to do, but results in very little return, financially speaking.

Kenneth J. Hall is an independent horror movie legend with such credits as creator of the PUPPET MASTER series beginning in 1989, as well as the special effects master behind GHOULIES (1985) and GHOULIES II (1987). And after writing and directing the instant cult classic THE HALFWAY HOUSE in 2004, Mr. Hall has now released a short film called NIGHT VISIT starring Lynn Lowery, an actress with a long and illustrious career in film, most notably in George Romero’s underrated sci-fi flick THE CRAZIES (1973).

A film in short-form obviously lends itself to repeated viewings, giving the viewer ample opportunity to appreciate the artistry of the filmmaker. And with Kenneth J. Hall’s NIGHT VISIT, the craftsmanship is clearly displayed; in the pacing, lighting, and quick-reveals; never giving the viewer the chance to catch a breath.

From the opening shot set at a slightly off-center over-head angle of the lovely Ms. Lowery lying in bed beautifully draped in shadow and light just before the terror begins. Soon Ms. Lowery is awakened to the horrific sight of a masked man wielding a large knife. From this nightmarish beginning we are taken on a 4-minute rollercoaster ride through the psychological perils of fear and trembling.

Hall sets a simple stage, basically an unadorned bedroom, in which Ms. Lowery plays a woman either in the grips of a passionate game of sexual role-play or in the middle of a torturous nightmare from which she may never awaken. Any way you slice it, NIGHT VISIT is one intense thriller.

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