Who doesn’t remember their first car? Mine was a 1992 Nissan Sentra that stalled at red lights and stop signs. That problem, however, pales in comparison to the situation presented in the short Glovebox, directed by brothers Joseph and Phillip Matarrese. A teenager eager for the keys to his first set of wheels soon discovers there’s far more wrong with his car than a bit of rust. The clunker contains the spirit of a serial killer.

The short opens just as the protagonist, Anthony (Michael Jamison), is handed the keys to an old muscle car by his parents, played by Katie Rose Krueger and Dov Hassan. Like any teen, he’s stoked to get behind the wheel and pick up his best friend, Michael (Myles Brown). The first minute or two is incredibly relatable. Everyone knows the excitement Anthony feels the minute his parents gift him the car. We all remember that feeling of sitting in the driver’s seat for the first time in our very own car. The opening plays like this is a film grounded in reality, but oh, does that change quickly.

From there, the short has a heck of a lot of fun with its premise. During his first spin, with Michael riding shotgun, Anthony feels the spirit of James Katz (Will Springhorn).  The driver flashes a maniacal and unsettling grin. His foot presses harder and harder upon the gas, despite Michael’s protests. Eventually, Anthony starts hearing James’ voice through the radio. All of this builds to a rather surprising and entertaining final minute or two.

Like any good short, Glovebox really left me wanting more. This is a wild premise, silly on the surface, but well-executed. There’s potential here to dive into the backstory of James Katz and for his spirit to really possess Anthony. Let’s go full throttle here. Heck, is it too much to ask for to witness a murder spree, all orchestrated by this creepy car? Yet, despite this short’s fantastical elements, it’s still grounded in a teenager’s experience with his first vehicle. Only, this set of wheels is deadly.

7 Out of 10