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Sophie Thatcher’s ‘Blink’ Is A Lean, Fun Horror Short [SXSW Review]

March 14, 2022 by Joe Lipsett

A close-up of a scared blonde girl's face in a hospital bed

Blink is notable for a few reasons. The first is that the short is the first project from Scream Gems Horror Lab, which is described as “an initiative from Sony’s genre label Screen Gems and Scott Glassgold’s production company Ground Control” that aims to be an “incubator” for up-and-coming filmmakers to move from shorts to features.

The other reason of note is that it just so happens to feature rising star Sophie Thatcher of Yellowjackets and The Book of Boba Fett fame. As directed/co-written by Spenser Cohen (Moonfall, Extinction), the approximately 9 minute short follows Mary (Thatcher), a young woman who awakens in the hospital after a fall out a window. Mary is paralyzed and unable to talk, so she can only able to communicate with Nurse Lynn (Alicia Coppola) by blinking: once for no, twice for yes. 

As if her health scare isn’t terrifying enough, in short order it becomes clear that Mary didn’t jump or fall out of that window accidentally. Plus: the thing (played by Scot Nery) responsible for her condition isn’t quite done with her yet.

There’s not much more to the short, which is relatively contained (it takes place in a single location, and features 2-3 actors). What Blink does have, however, is style: Cohen uses his camera and sound design to create tension and scares in closed confines. There’s a great scare involving a slowly closing door, as well as the use of reflection to frame the action in a way that reinforces Mary’s helplessness. This is most evident in the fantastic climax, which is entirely composed and framed in a slow push-in on her eye. 

As far as shorts go, this is a fun one. It has a recognizable lead in Thatcher, though sadly her character’s state doesn’t allow her to do a ton. More significantly, though, the Cohen’s ability to craft scares from the sound design and framing bode well for his career in features. He’s one to watch!

The Bottom Line: Blink is a lean, fun horror short with a recognizable actress, great sound design and direction.

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Filed Under: Horror Film Festival Coverage, SXSW Tagged With: Scream Gems Horror Lab, short films, Sophie Thatcher, Spenser Cohen

The 411 on me

I am a freelance film and television journalist based in Toronto, Canada.

Words:
> Bloody Disgusting
> /Film
> Consequence
> The Spool
> Anatomy of a Scream
> Grim Journal
> That Shelf

Podcasts:
> Horror Queers
> Hazel & Katniss & Harry & Starr

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