Short films, and more specifically those in the horror genre, are typically a blast to consume. They’re punchy, quick, and often deliver the most bang for your buck in their abrupt timeframe. Those that are less than five minutes (AKA “micro shorts”) are much more difficult to review for the simple fact that there just isn’t much to cover.
Confessions of a Lunar Werewolf , running at just over three minutes, feels more like a trailer than an actual cohesive storyline. The micro short, directed by Alex Ramirez, and written by R.S. Ebert, introduces us to CJ (Courtney Jacoby) as she transforms into a werewolf by ingesting several unknown tinctures.
The most glaring problem is that the sequence of her drinking these vials takes up nearly half the film. We know enough to understand that these drinks likely aren’t natural, and that chaos will ensue upon her taking them, but by the time we see the results, the movie is almost over.
This is unfortunate, because the effects of Confessions of a Lunar Werewolf are actually quite impressive, especially given the meager budget and length. CJ’s transformation is authentic and immersive. By the time it comes to fruition, however, the credits are rolling, and we are left feeling unsatisfied and wishing for more.
There are a few imperative editing decisions that needed to be made for a movie that’s this brief; with the main issue being that the filmmakers needed to cut to the chase much quicker to give the full impact. The title is also confusing, as there are no confessions (and to be transparent – no dialogue whatsoever) to warrant that description.
Maybe the filmmakers wanted to tell more, but were unable to due to budget constraints, or possibly have plans to continue this in a larger scope. That being said, a complete overhaul in editing and direction could have enhanced the impact and saved the story, but unfortunately was bogged down by unnecessary sequences.
