Familiar, written and directed by David J. Ellison, depicts moments from Richard Mason’s life as he partakes in his role as a familiar. Familiar to what? I will leave that to the audience to find out.

Familiar is largely a one-man show. Hugo Nicolau plays Richard with more than enough gumption to carry it. The character is fear personified. He is terrified or unsettled in almost every frame. Sometimes his fear is subtle, and sometimes it takes control and becomes obvious. There’s no glimpse at how he started on this path, but it is clear why he’s still on it. The only relationships are the one Richard has with this supernatural thing, and the one he has with himself. Both are depicted well. There is very little dialogue.

Familiar is full of sepia tones. It is consistent, even as light and shadow are played with. This creates an odd sort of warmth, that along with the music, juxtaposes with Richard’s horrific actions. The cinematography is impressive. The cinematography, setting, and music work together to create an atmosphere that builds suspense on its own. The audio is interesting. Some layers sound low, almost muddled, and then I would hear a tick or a bump in sharp, perfect, clarity. It was fun to listen to and added a nice unwieldy element. There is a line of dialogue that didn’t sound as clear as I would have liked it to, which becomes rather notable given the overall lack of dialogue. The effects, make-up, and editing bring the violence and mystery to life. Everything appears practical and well-realized.

Being a familiar is a road built on frustration and abuse. Familiar makes this abundantly clear. It is its most horrifying element, which is a triumph because we never see it. When I was done I wondered if things were too simple, even for a mood piece. I’ve concluded there isn’t anything simple about the technical proficiency on display. The story did its job effectively, and then it ended. It left me wanting more, it might leave others wanting more, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing…unless you’re our familiar.