I have to give writer/director Aaron M. Cabrera credit. His short, Where the Shadows Feast, combines film noir with classic monster movies. The execution doesn’t always quite work, but the genre-bender has some pretty cool visuals and an interesting concept.

Corey Allen plays a detective who also narrates the beginning of the film. In typical film noir fashion, he’s a hard-boiled detective, determined to solve a case that’s been haunting him for years. It entails children vanishing into the darkness of their own rooms. On paper, this is a chilling concept, though it doesn’t quite work in the film and raises more questions than answers.  For instance, how do children just disappear into their rooms? Does the monster kill them, or do something else with them? What’s the monster’s deal anyways? Allen’s character becomes even more wrapped up in the case after confronted by Elena (Alicia Blasingame), who lost her child to the darkness

The film’s black and white adds to the film noir aesthetic, but the last few minutes veer into straight up horror territory. This is when the short really gets good, once we’re treated to the monster, played by Troy James. The villain contorts its body in all kinds of creepy ways. Visually, it looks quite menacing once fully seen. Its appearance coincides with the whimpers and unnerving giggles of a child. Talk about frightening.

Where the Shadows Feast left me scratching my head a few times regarding the concept. That said, the creature design looks great, and the film noir aesthetic is another positive. Overall, this short is an entertaining genre-bender, but it’s the monster that truly steals the show.