In Hector’s Hell House, Elliot Barton (Gabriel Storm) is an anxious and imaginative boy who scares easily. Halloween isn’t exactly his favorite time of year. Told by his father to toughen up and teased by his older brother, Elliot eventually agrees to visit a haunted house. However, he should have stayed home. Writer/director John Adam Krueger‘s short and Elliot’s decision arrives at quite a jolting ending.
It can’t be understated just how good Storm’s performance is throughout the short. His anxiety and rattled nerves feel palpable, and for a lot of the sequences, Krueger keeps the camera focused on Elliot, so we follow his point of view throughout the runtime. We see the world through his eyes, including the last few minutes in the haunt, when his nerves fray even more.
The rest of the cast is rounded out by Bill Mendieta as Elliot’s dad, Jim, Christian Weissmann as older brother Robby, and Liesel Kopp as the matriarch, Margret. I do wish that Elliot had a few more interactions with the rest of the family, but the film is only 11 minutes long. However, the sequences between Elliot and Jim are some of the strongest, especially because it’s clear Elliot wants to meet his father’s expectations and toughen up. After all, according to Jim, who works as a local sheriff, Bartons don’t scare easily.
The film’s set designs are simple but effective in establishing the Halloween mood and tone, be it jack-o-lanterns grinning on the Barton family’s porch stoop, or the haunt actors that pop out of shadowy corners and terrify poor Elliot. This film certainly captures the spooky season vibes. Yet, it’s never quite clear why Elliot jumps at his own shadow. There’s a bit too much left unexplored here regarding his character to justify why he’s constantly on edge.
It’s also clear from the outset that going to the haunt won’t work out well for Elliot, but even still, the ending comes as quite a shock. This is a credit to Krueger’s script. The film takes a sudden turn that surprises and sticks with the viewer.
Overall, Hector’s Hell House is a well-crafted short film that uses the Halloween season to explore a young boy’s profound and deep anxieties. I would love to see Krueger drive into this world more and really expand upon the family dynamics.
You can watch the film, for free HERE.
