Tom Nicoll’s short The Cost of Living begs the question: “What lengths would you go to pay your rent?” In today’s socio-political climate, rent increases and underemployment run rampant in the news. They also are potential thematic fodder for horror films. Who isn’t tired of landlords bleeding them dry around the first of the month?

An Alter exclusive, The Cost of Living concerns a couple (Lorna Nickson Brown and Liam Harkins) who are worried about paying the rent, since one of them is out of work. The landlord (Jonathan Coote) appearing at the door at the most inopportune moments doesn’t help their situation either. At least he didn’t raise the rent when they renewed the lease, right?

At one point she tells her significant other that he looks positively drained. At first, this seems like an offhand comment. Perhaps his job search has been unfruitful and he’s exhausted from the effort and stress? But the line takes on a more sinister meaning when paired with the film’s surprising conclusion.

While at first the film’s title and tagline may seem too on the nose, co-writers Nicoll and Zach Newby insert a tasty twist ending (which won’t be spoiled here). Billed as a horror-comedy, The Cost of Living saves most of its humor for the punchline. But attentive viewers may pick up on the clever wordplay throughout.

Slow pans, high-pitched mandolin music, and an academy-ratio frame help build suspense and give the film a claustrophobic air. While the final result isn’t overtly horrifying, the film’s use of genre tropes elicits a good laugh. “Overall, the film resembles an elaborately told pun, the type where the listener can’t help but smile at the cleverness of its telling. While some viewers may not ascribe to the same sense of humor, The Cost of Living is an amusing and inventive film through its inversion of horror tropes.

You can view the short on the ALTER YouTube channel

Rating: 7 out of 10 stars