Fantasia International Film Festival 2024– As much as I enjoy established slasher franchises such as Scream, Halloween, and Chucky, it’s always refreshing to watch a slasher that isn’t anchored to a long-running franchise. Hell Is a Teenage Girl may have a few nods to horror movie favorites, but it tees up a well-crafted world and a final girl with plenty of resolve and interesting history, more specifically the fact she’s the daughter of a serial killer who returns every Halloween. The short is a compelling spooky season blast with strong characterization that warrants a feature-length film.

Written and directed by Stephen Sawchuk, the film stars Riverdale’s Skylar Radzion as Parker Campbell. High school is hellish for the protagonist. She’s bullied due to her lineage. Her father resurfaces once a year to slaughter teens who don’t follow the tired and true rules- don’t drink, don’t do drugs, and don’t have sex. Tired of her reputation, Parker decides to lure the killer to her house by breaking every one of those rules on Halloween night. By defeating her dad and saving the town, she hopes to rehabilitate her namesake.

Though this short is only 15 minutes, it very much feels like an established world. The fictional town of Springboro becomes its own character, with its own grisly history. The opening shots of teenagers dressed up in various costumes, including a Freddy Kreuger sweater, add to the fun spooky season aesthetic. Shots of high school hallways feel familiar, but Springboro feels distinct enough because of its ugly history, developed from the outset.

Meanwhile, Parker is a layered final girl, trying to confront her past and move out of the shadow of her family’s ugly legacy. Radzion offers a solid performance here, as a determined protagonist who also wonders if she’ll eventually wind up more like her father or more like her mom, the sweet Laurie, played by Jill Morrison. This creates tension beyond the usual hack and slash of similar films. Additionally, Faly Mevamanana stars alongside Radzion as Parker’s best friend Reilly, who adds a dash of humor and levity to the short. It’s generally a strong all-Canadian cast.

Overall, Hell Is a Teenage Girl feels very fresh, while still nodding to long-running rules of the slasher genre and known franchises. Sawchuk is already working on a feature-length production based on this short. These 15 minutes are a bloody entertaining tease, showcasing the potential of this world. Radzion makes a resolute and capable final girl, too. I can’t wait to see more.

9 Out of 10