We all process grief differently. For the main character in writer/director Davide Melini‘s short Deep Shock, grief manifests in trippy nightmares that somehow murder those closest to her. This comes after she has already lost her sister and grandfather. Melini’s film is a wild ride, rife with unnerving religious imagery and a creepy premise that would make for an intriguing feature-length film.

Muireann Bird stars as Sarah Taylor. After losing her sister, Helen (Erica Prior), and her grandfather, John (Luis Fernández de Eribe), she takes pills to cope with the pain but struggles to sleep. Each night, she has eerie visions of her dead family members. Even worse, in her nightmares, she witnesses brutal murders of those closest to her. Were John and Helen somehow involved with the occult? There’s more than enough imagery to make a viewer think so, and somehow, in the afterlife, they unleashed malevolent forces upon the living.

There are plenty of positives here. The religious imagery, including a cross that suddenly bursts into flames, is downright spooky. The murders are quite vicious and bloody, which should please gorehounds. One drawn-out sequence is especially nasty. Shot in Spain, the film primarily includes a single location of an estate. This creates a foreboding  Gothic atmosphere with shadowy rooms and the constant sound of pounding rain. The location and setting set the tone that evil is ever-present. While some of the smaller roles left a bit to be desired in terms of performance, Bird does a fine job in the leading role as a grief-stricken woman who may or may not be losing her grip on reality.

Deep Shock has so much potential for a full-length with room to explore the family’s history. In 30 minutes, Melini establishes an effective atmosphere that leans into occult horror and packs a surprising punch.

7 out of 10