Queen of Prey wastes no time in getting straight to the point. At just over 9 minutes long, including the credits, there’s no room in this short film for anything unnecessary, and I appreciate that. Sometimes 9 minutes and 10 seconds is all you need to tell exactly the story you want to tell. Bravo to filmmaker Michael Conroy for doing that!

The film follows an introverted young man whose girlfriend brings him to a swinger party. Sensing his awkwardness, an older woman helps him loosen up – revealing her true form along the way. It’s a stark depiction of sexual assault and the toll it can take on a relationship.

Queen of Prey is very effective in utilizing the “vampiric creature as a metaphor for sexual assault” trope. It’s very uncomfortable to watch, but doesn’t seem gratuitous – probably thanks to the streamlined runtime and careful editing. However, it’s also uncomfortable in a different way.

Accessibility is where Queen of Prey falls short. The film is free on YouTube, but has no closed-captioning; even auto-generated subtitles are unavailable. There are also a lot of flashing/strobing lights throughout. A photosensitivity warning at the beginning or even in the description would be in order. The amount of flashing effects is definitely within the danger zone for those prone to seizures.

Overall, Queen of Prey is a punchy little film that will stick with you long after you’ve watched it. The acting, music, costumes, and sets are all great, and the film is well-edited. It stands on its own just fine, but I could also see it becoming part of an anthology film somewhere down the line.

9 out of 10