Writer/director Alastair Train’s short film Pearls really arrives at unexpected places. It’s an intriguing bit of filmmaking that also includes some impressive special effects. For those who like sudden narrative shifts or even body horror, then this short is definitely worth a watch.
The film opens with Tony (Rory Murphy) attempting intimacy with his wife, Linda (Helen Jessica Liggat). While we certainly hear what they’re trying to do, Train ensures the sequence isn’t gratuitous. We do see a shot or two of them under the sheets, but the purpose of the opening is to establish the struggles that Tony has with physical intimacy. In other words, things aren’t working quite like they used to for Tony, and Linda certainly doesn’t fault him for this. Tony then comes across an advertisement for oysters, stating that they provide a lot of vitamins that are pro-sex benefits. Tony thinks it’s just the natural remedy he needs to help return everything to working order again.
From there, Tony meets the very odd Marvin (Mark Wingett), who sells him said oysters. Tony then rushes home to try them with Linda, and well, by short’s halfway point, the film evolves into a gnarly bit of body horror. Let’s just say that the oysters do have a transformative effect, but not quite the one that Tony and Linda hoped for. The body horror sequences are really impressive, and the film’s special effects, along with its sudden twist, are pure highlights. Train really crafted an inspired short that horror fans should really dig. The last few minutes especially are a clever nod to the film’s title.
Train already has a few short films under his belt, and Pearls proves that the writer/director has a heck of a lot of talent and imaginative flair. Pearls has a clever twist that utilizes its title so well. Its special effects and body horror moments are elements genre fans will slurp up and enjoy like a delicious oyster indeed. I’m eager to see Train’s future contributions to the horror genre.
