Everyone has to get their start somewhere, and a lot of us get them working on short films.
This one was shot by cinematographer Greig Fraser, who would go on to do numerous films, like Dune, The Batman, and Vice. Directed by Nash Edgerton and written by Edgerton and David Michod, this short tells the story of a man who always takes his jokes too far. His girlfriend is annoyed with him, and on the drive home, they work to deal with their issues.
I won't spoil what happens, but suffice it to say, it's very fun. Check it out below. Spoilers to follow.
What we can learn from this short
Spider is one of those shorts that sticks with you... and out of your eye.
The special effects and stunt work is spectacular and serve the short well during this cringe-inducing experience.
The premise here is simple. We arrive late after an unnamed prank has gone wrong. As the boyfriend vigorously apologizes, he knows he's in deep. They stop for gas, he grabs flowers, chocolates, and a fake spider. After planting the spider in the sunshade, things spiral. He makes up with this girlfriend, who is scared by the spider, gets out of the car, and is hit by a car. Then, when paramedics come, they attempt to give her a shot, but the paramedic sees the spider and stabs the boyfriend in the eye after jumping in fear.
This is one of the more hilarious setups and payoffs, in a short that really capitalizes on how it uses its time to subvert expectations, challenge notions of who you're rooting for, and even makes you feel bad as to what you're rooting for. I'd say it's a hard watch, but I think the laughs make it easier.
If I had to pick a critique, I wish it had more of a punch at the end. It feels like we get left hanging, pretty literally. I'd like to have seen the prank come full circle or continue to spiral. But that's just me being nitpicky.
Let us know what you think in the comments.
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