Straight out of the Home Invasion Shorts block at 2019’s Brooklyn Horror Film Festival, Meredith Alloway’s Deep Tissue seeks to explore the sensations of human touch, and the biting thrills of horror and pleasure.

It’s difficult to spin gold from straw with a concept that can be described in its simplest form as, a girl who orders a “special” massage. While Alloway sets up what could be a grotesque vampire in the modern age, or possibly a serial killer in the making, instead the film takes a turn toward themes of romance and body horror; which would work as a coupling, given more time to develop.

As a result, the horror found in Deep Tissue comes across as underwhelming when revealed. Furthermore, categorizing the Deep Tissue as part of a Home Invasion subgenre seems to attach a confusion as to the film’s nature; unintentionally shaming its take on sensuality and exploration into human touch.

For any flaws found in Alloway’s new short, the final shot is undeniably kick-ass, with Alloway standing in the doorway of her motel room, waving off her masseuse, bloodstains soaking through the back of her white robe.