Sid Zanforlin’s new short Never Tear Us Apart starts with one of the most brutal and bloody deaths I’ve seen in a long time, so it immediately got my attention. In its seven-minute running time it runs the gamut from real suspense and horror to laugh-out-loud hilarity and then back again.

Matt Keyes and Alex Weiner star as James and Colin, respectively, two friends traveling to the woods to visit–well, at first I thought James was visiting future in-laws, but maybe just long-lost family members? Either way, he’s bringing gifts and hoping to be welcomed with open arms.

What they find at the cabin, though, might get them welcomed, but for all the wrong bloody reasons.

The script by director Zanforlin and Chris Bavota is simple, effective, and hits all the right notes. The special effects are realistic, shocking, and surprisingly bloody. All the actors involved are natural and believable, important points in such an over-the-top story.

Zanforlin is a strong director, and takes us on this crazy trip with a sure hand and unblinking eye. He knows how to frame the action for maximum impact. This was a fun short that delivers in spades exactly what it promises, and maybe even a bit more than that.

Never Tear Us Apart screens on July 19 at Fantasia International Film Festival.

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