Writer/director Natalie Rodriguez’s Beyond the Moonlight is an intense and nail-biting short film about a dancer pushed to the brink. There’s also a sharp turn by the halfway point, though once it occurs, it’s not surprising, considering the film’s title. Rodriguez certainly has a talent for creating nerve-jangling suspense, and I’d love to see her continue in the horror genre.
The short stars Isabella Jaimie as Abigail and Alexandra Almendarez as her dance instructor Laurie. A majority of the film only features these two on screen, as Laurie presses Abigail to practice again and again and again. The pressure is evident from the get-go. Moments before Abigail meets with Laurie, she stares at herself in front of the mirror, whispering a pep talk to herself.
Laurie is a brutal and relentless instructor. She makes Abigail repeat moves over and over again, and she’s never satisfied. It’s clear why Abigail felt such pressure heading into her latest lesson, with a harsh instructor like Laurie looming over her. It gets to the point where Abigail nearly crashes and collapses on the ground, and that’s when the film takes a sudden shift.
As stated, based on the film’s title, the film’s turning point by the midway point won’t come as that much of a surprise. There’s also a rather impressive transformation scene. After this sequence, it’s clear why Laurie is so harsh and pushes her student to the breaking point.
Both Jaimie and Almendarez are good in their respective roles. As Abigail, Jaimie gives off eager student vibes, doing whatever she can to please the teacher, no matter if it abuses her body. Meanwhile, Almendarez is utterly cold and flashes a sadistic grin, as if her character gets off on the student’s pain. Rodriguez’s camera work, including the close-ups, coupled with repetitive shots of Abigail’s twirling body, creating a dizzying and disorienting experience, which is most likely intentional.
Beyond the Moonlight is ultimately an unconventional creature feature. It contains two strong performances by its female leads and clever camerawork. I wouldn’t mind seeing more of Laurie and Abigail in a feature-length film.
