Short films often get lost in the fray against their feature length counterparts, causing them to be overlooked and under appreciated. One could argue, however, that a short film is far more difficult to execute successfully. Every shot, every sequence, and every aspect of the story has to captivate the audience in a very short amount of time.
The Pearl Comb, written and directed by Ali Cook, not only expertly hits all of those points, it knocks them out of the park to deliver a haunting, exquisite tale that’s part horror and part fantasy.
The first frame states everything you need to know about the setting – a sweeping, gloomy seaside shot with a caption letting you know that this is Cornwall in 1893. It’s clear that a moody chamber piece, with a small cast and plenty of intrigue, awaits.
Betty Lutey (Beatie Edney) is a fisherman’s wife who is paid a visit by a doctor wanting to investigate the story behind claims that she is the first person to ever cure a child of Tuberculosis. We get a sense that there’s an underlying worry on Betty’s side regarding this visit. It’s quietly done, relying on up-close shots of her looking stoic and terse.
The doctor (played by Cook himself), is unapologetically skeptical that Betty was able to pull off such an incredible medical feat. Through flashbacks, we soon find out that this was not merely a stroke of luck, but something much more fantastical in nature. We see a sequence where her husband, Lutey (Simon Armstrong), comes across a mermaid perched along the cliffs near their home. Thus begins an unraveling of a tale of good intentions, temptation, and magic, all of which circles back to Betty and her unexplained medicinal abilities. To say any more would be doing a disservice to the viewer, because this is something that’s better experienced if you go in blind.
The Pearl Comb combines fantasy, horror, and mystery to deliver an exceptionally unique story in just twenty minutes of screen time. It’s a rare film that doesn’t falter on any level. The cinematography, set design, costumes, effects, and acting are astonishingly masterful. Additionally, there’s also a smartly done commentary on how women were regarded during this time period, and how difficult it was for them to be seen as anything other than house servants.
While some movie lovers may balk at the thought of watching a short film, this is one that stands out as a must-see. The creators of this movie have a deep understanding and appreciation of tone and atmosphere, which helps propel this into award-worthy cinematic storytelling.
