The world can be divided into two subsets: A person who loves a good horror flick, and a person who loves a heartfelt tale. Luckily for you, this wide range of shorts combines both.
EYECATCHER
Watched by: Demi Guo
The horror of this film stems from an atmosphere rife with familial love. Yuna Jung (Joy Park) must care for her ‘Appa,’ or father, played by Joseph Steven Yang, after her mother leaves them. As they make their way home, they are accosted by a man possessed by some strange entity that travels through eye contact between humans.
But the horror doesn’t lie in the blood, flickering lights, or generally unsettling atmosphere; that’s just the conduit for the small moments of beauty the characters experience: Yuna, stressed, yells at her appa, then immediately apologizes for her outburst. As for the possessed and tortured man (Jorge-Luis Pallo), though he is physically on dark concrete, something much more bright and warm is happening in his mind …
The director and writer, Jun Shimizu, first released the “Eyecatcher” concept in 2018 in a short film with the same name, same setting in Los Angeles’ Koreatown, but a completely different set of characters. The themes he wanted to portray in that inaugural version seem to have fully matured in this rendition; the “Eyecatcher” released in 2023 breaks your heart not with grisly strangers and nameless demons alone, but with love and kindness gone horribly wrong.
(Image Credit: Stephen Law)
WAIPO (外婆)
Watched by: Demi Guo
It starts as a normal Chinese American-meets-old country kind of story: Kelly (Lily Yin) struggles through her Mandarin as she prepares to meet her boyfriend’s mother for the first time. The mother (Grace Chang) initially receives her with warmth and hospitality; she feeds her, asks after her field of study, urges her to give birth to some grandchildren, and asks her about her period – all the awkward works when you encounter an immigrant Chinese mother.
It’s once night falls that the atmosphere takes a sudden turn, and the horror begins. The warmth fades away. From the beginning, the implication was that for all her hospitality, the mother does not approve of her son’s Americanized girlfriend – an everyday fear and frustration many Chinese Americans have faced. She embodies the disdain that staunch traditionalist parents hold for Americanized children, says these quiet parts aloud – “Nowadays, you Americans are just spoiled. No respect for traditions. No respect for your elders” – and metes out violent discipline.
The mother showing her true colors is not even the plot twist; let’s just say that in “Waipo,” the terms “Respect your elders” and “honor your ancestors” take on the most literal meaning possible.
(Image Credit: Aimee Pham)
HOUSE RULES
Watched by: Demi Guo
Need a more lighthearted watch? Director Aimee Pham has got you covered. Cass (Brittney Quach) just wants to lose her virginity to the cute guy at school, and it’s absolutely not any of her mom’s business, no matter how much her mom pries!
But disaster strikes – the cute boy (Jeff, played by Nicholas Petroccione) just can’t take off his shoes in the house. This playful trope is anxiety-inducing in this film, and you’ll find yourself even more staunch on the position that all house guests should leave their shoes at the door – no ifs, ands, or buts.
The visual cues are especially strong players in this story, where props and make-up foreshadow events and tell us how the atmosphere has changed. Cass’s mother (Cat Ly) has the look of a party girl throughout the film; she wears a bright dress and make-up, and chats excitedly about her date with her boyfriend. When disaster strikes, however, she’s there in soft, comfortable clothes, face devoid of make-up – looking suddenly like she could be anyone’s mother. All the mundane little details are stitched together to create a delightful little dark comedy.
The short film is a joke built on delayed gratification – the punchline comes all the way at the end, but you’ll have fun throughout the whole thing.
(Image Credit: San-San Onglatco)
ZENAIDA
Watched by: Christson Luigi Asuncion
In San-San Onglatco’s short film “Zenaida,” the titular character is an aging diva suffering from dementia. Her caregiver Ibrahim (Giovanni Ortega), an undocumented Filipino-Muslim, struggles with his drag act by night and resorts to secretly borrowing Zenaida’s (Fe de los Reyes) clothes and jewelry to inspire a possible new act. However, complications arise when she mistakes him for a thief.
Ibrahim displays his passion for all his works outright throughout the film despite any consequences he may face — including deportation. The relationship between him and Zenaida is genuine as he shows true care and interest in her past and present life. As a failing drag queen, Ibrahim still continues to look for new ways to elevate his act and become more comfortable being in front of a crowd. Inspiration can spark from anywhere when it comes to art, and even in the most distressing circumstances, Ibrahim still finds this spark, unlocking a new sense of artistry to add to the next act in his life. For a passionate artist that loves their craft, the performance truly does go on no matter what.
HALMONI’S POT
Watched by: Christson Luigi Asuncion
Everyone is always in search of a good deal, and this is certainly the case in A. L. Lee’s short film “Halmoni’s Pot.” When David (Matt Louie) is left at home injured, his halmoni (grandma) reluctantly agrees to purchase his pot as it is her grandmotherly duty. Expectations are shifted when she decides to go above and beyond this task by bargaining with the two pot dealers to get her grandson a better deal.
Throughout the transaction, power dynamics switch from the pot dealers to Grandma (Alexis Rhee) as they argue back and forth on prices and business strategies. According to Grandma, “big boss give big discount” which makes her in charge as the biggest boss since she calls for her own discount. With a newfound interest in the business, she sticks to her principles when it comes to her grandson and getting good deals. Even when she’s not your own, there’s just something about an old, lovely-looking grandmother that makes you do almost anything for her.
AUTOPILOT
Watched by: Demi Guo
Diana (Gina Su) loves her job. She drives a spacecraft through the galaxies, watching the stars unfold. All she has for companionship is Ovid (Matt Gottlieb), a simulation she summons and talks to twice a day. She’s not even a little bit homesick, she tells him.
Her effusive joy turns into unmitigated terror when Ovid starts appearing without her order. Strange thumps sound throughout this spacecraft, and nothing is more terrifying than a solo mission suddenly gaining an invisible passenger.
For such a grand set – a spacecraft that feels like a mansion for its lone inhabitant – its sleek design is full of bare walls in uniform colors. So when a prop – like the clock in the cockpit – changes, it’s the first thing the viewer notices. Diana’s expressions and emotional struggle can be felt in all corners of the room, and Ovid’s stoic poise speaks volumes. At the end of the day, in a story about human companionship and loneliness, it’s the artificially-created life forms who can feel the most human.
The “Brace Yourself!” shorts block screened at the 46th Asian American International Film Festival.