Sundance Film Festival 2025 – Writer/director Roxy Sophie Sorkin’s  Swollen has a pretty bonkers premise. Two best friends, Roxy (Sorkin) and Lily (Lily Rosenthal), hesitate to call the police after a burglar breaks into their home. They don’t want to be seen bandaged and bloodied after plastic surgery. Sorkin’s distinct voice really comes through in this short film. She’s definitely a talent to watch.

The burglar (Miles Elliot) smashes a window and breaks into the home within the opening minute. When the friends realize this, they barely leave the bedroom. Instead, they spend much of the runtime debating whether or not they should call the police. Their faces are indeed bruised and bloodied, and Sorkin frequently has tight shots and close-ups to reinforce this fact. The dialogue between Rosenthal and Sorkin’s characters is witty and frequently funny. The friends even quote Taylor Swift.

There’s an absurdity that exists throughout the runtime. Exterior shots of the house, for instance, show a toy/model home. Most, if not all of the police, are queer and wear tight leather shorts. Roxy and Lily flirt with them on the phone and when they eventually show up. This, too, is comical. This is such a bizarre world, but the well-crafted script is filled with laughs.

Sorkin now has a few short films under her belt. I’d love to see her tackle a full-length. Swollen is a gonzo short film that’s a well-scripted horror comedy. This film is a heck of a lot of fun.