“A small-town gas station attendant’s life is turned upside down by the appearance of a violent creature that forces her to face the demons of her past.”

The story follows Callie as she works the graveyard shift a gas station. We meet a few of the locals and we see hints of past issues such as alcoholism. All the while, news of a possible bear attack is heard which then escalates to not a bear but something else. All this comes to head in the finale when lights go out and Callie is forced to confront the beast.

In a short film, you only have so much time to convey the story you want to tell. Move too slowly and you’ve wasted time, move too fast and you’ve created something that feels rushed. Hunting Season finds that sweet spot. With an eleven minute run time, it does well to create a sense of foreboding. All the atmosphere in the world would be wasted if the lead wasn’t strong enough to carry it all. But Hannah Levien handles it in stride. She is a talented actress and writer (she wrote this film) and it shows.

Hunting Season was able to get me invested in the fate of our lead with solid writing and well-done effects. Adding to that, the strong acting and subtle soundtrack, and we have a short film with a surprising yet satisfying conclusion that will stay with you after the credits roll.