Slush’s writer/director Ashley George spins a tale of witchcraft to remind us why such the witch has always been seen as both a powerful and terrifying figure. Her short is a revenge tale that, like a lot of other recent witch films, also focuses on female empowerment. In the process, George created an entertaining and character-driven short that pits the outsider against a toxic community.

Emily Bennett stars as Frankie, who initially bailed on her father, Kyle (John Henry Whitaker), after her mom died. Frankie returns home and still has an uneasy relationship with her father, though it’s not fully clear until much later in the film why their relationship is so strained. Moments into their reunion, however, their unease with each is well-stated, as conversation quickly sours. Meanwhile, Frankie has to deal with the fact that everyone in the small town community views her dad as a freak, though it’s unclear why, and see her as a witch. This worsens when she attends a friend’s wedding activities, reuniting her with some of the worst bullies within the community.

Yet, Frankie doesn’t do much to dispel such rumors. It’s shown early on that she possesses some kind of powers linked to the Earth. She even kills someone with mushrooms, and it’s as gnarly as you’d expect. In fact, fans of Mandy or Altered States will likely enjoy this short for its psychedelic moments. I do wish that the extent of Frankie’s power was fully shown and explored more, though I do like the sequences that show her connection to the natural world.

Like other recent films, Slush reclaims the witch as symbol of female power and agency. This is also a story about an outsider unleashing hell upon a community that threatens her. Overall, this a well-scripted short with a compelling lead at its center. I’d love to see more of Frankie, perhaps in a feature-length film.