Short films, particularly those with a small budget, are difficult to review, and with an overall runtime of 11 minutes, Elso is no exception. The story is simple, and follows an unnamed woman (played by writer/director Meryn Ruppert), who discovers a wedding dress stowed away in a hotel room closet. When she finds the accompanying wedding ring, she awakens the vengeful spirit of the original owner.

Creating a film almost entirely on your own is no easy feat, and with so much of the responsibilities resting on Ruppert’s shoulders (aside from co-director and producer John Swanbeck), recognition must be given for pulling it off. Elso seems very much an entry-level film, though, feeling more like a student submission than anything else. 

The sound quality is rough, and the only substantial scene with important dialogue is muffled and difficult to hear. The cinematography does a decent job of following characters in a way that helps add to the tension, but with the majority of the movie taking place in a single room, there isn’t much opportunity for this. Ruppert’s line delivery is stiff and devoid of much emotion, even when the intensity ramps up, making it difficult to connect with her character in the little time we are given.

Every creator needs to start somewhere, and Ruppert presents an entertainingly spooky idea, but Elso is an end result that’s still considerably rough around the edges and in need of polishing.