Screenhead

Open up YouTube and look around for short horror film sometime.  My search netted over two hundred and thirty thousand results.  The one I’m bringing you today, The Insane, comes from 2008’s San Diego Comic-Con, and it was a contest winner over there.  Should it have been?  Let’s take a look.

In The Insane, a cop out for bloody payback takes to the streets armed with only his righteous indignation and a crowbar when he finds his wife murdered.  But is it really the work of a cult of homicidal lunatics?  Or is something much more sinister at work?

Okay, I admit–the ending on this one isn’t exactly a huge surprise.  Horror buffs will likely see it coming about halfway through.  But it was a solidly done piece, and assuming the rest weren’t anything special, probably blew most of its competition out of the water by virtue of excellent production values.  There’s plenty of blood-soaked action in here, and the cop drama aspect is also solidly done.  There’s definitely a lot worse out there than this, but do I approve of it sufficiently to merit giving it awards?  Not so much.

The Screenhead Ten Scale, meanwhile, issues The Insane a seven out of ten.  It’s an excellent example of short horror, but its dependence on the conventions isn’t a welcome treat at all.

Popularity: unranked [?]