Lights Out (2013)
2013
3 Minutes
A woman prepares for bed, but realizes that something may be lurking in the shadows.
User Review
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Lights Out will increase your electricity bill substantially. David Sandberg's short, that inspired the feature film of the same title, is effective because of one element. It turns a common fear into a nightmarish experience. Being frightened of darkness is a phobia that keeps people awake at night. For Sandberg to utilise this psychological detriment and craft a decent three minute film is quite impressive. Naturally the acting is mediocre and the directing style lacks imagination. However, it's the demonic entity residing in the shadows that truly increases your heart rate. The flickering of the light switch, making the demon disappear and reappear instantaneously, exhumed innovation. You just know it's going to move closer with each flick of the switch, as your breathing quickens whilst you wait for the inevitable. Obviously the best line of defence is hiding under the duvet (really...) and its at that precise moment where the excellent sound editing kicks in. The absurdly creaky floorboards as you hear the demon walk, suddenly turning into a light run towards the bedroom. The most effective scares are those that the viewer cannot see, leaving it to their imagination to induce fear. The final shot somewhat loses the tension, but the outstanding use of lighting and conceptualised fear makes this a memorable short. Thank God we got a full length feature film!0 member like this review.
