For this DC Showcase short film, here's one that can be best described as alluring. Why? Strap in and find out. This short film focuses on five teenagers: Marcy, Harry, Ted, Dee Dee, and Violet. They're going to a party hosted by a guy named Seth. Marcy gets a visit from The Phantom Stranger telling her to not fall for Seth's behavior. As it turns out, Seth is actually an immortal being who sucks out the souls of his victims.
There's this underlying theme on how you should take control of your own choices, or you'll otherwise face the consequences. I have a few things to talk about:
The vibe: Yeah, this is an interesting way to start things off. The vibe of this short is very retro, akin to the 1960s. The clothing and minibus van would not feel out of place in Scooby Doo. There's a psychedelic vibe from Seth's party, right down to the hard rock music and heavy rainbow colors. There's more to the vibe then the aesthetics. There's talk about trying to escape the status quo and trying to overcome society to find your own destiny. It all works because it takes time to let you get sucked in.
Marcy and her friends: The thing that really pulls this together is the dynamic that Marcy has with her friends. They're all going to Seth's party in California, specifically as a means of escaping their parents. However, Marcy is quite hesitant. She questions the idea of going to a party from a complete stranger who doesn't even know her. They do seem friendly, but they are lightly pressuring her to go to the party even when she's somewhat uncomfortable with this. They drink and smoke like most teenagers of the time, but she is more mindful of her behavior even if she is somewhat emotionally vulnerable. She's certainly not dumb though since she at least has enough awareness of her environment to be able to fend for herself . To add to this, she doesn't know about her purpose in life, while her friends just want their purpose to be nonstop partying.
Phantom Stranger: Despite the title, the Phantom Stranger is more of a supporting character. Nonetheless, he's certainly a character full of intrigue. Seth claims he's not entirely innocent, and there is some evidence to that. He does genuinely look out for Marcy, but knows her friends aren't pure of heart, and lets them die. However, he still gives off the vibe of a mysterious, wise sage with the gentle yet authoritative tone of his voice.
Seth: Seth is definitely an interesting character. He initially comes across as a genuinely nice guy who just wants others to have fun. He's instead along the lines of a sociopath. He marks his victims with red wine, and kisses them so he can kill them with little resistance. It's all do he can maintain his immortality, which he can do with the Arabus Pendant. He also gives off the vibe of a sexual predator, giving him a whole new level of scary.
So, how does everything come together in the end? Well, when Marcy sees her friends' dead bodies, it initially seems like she wants to be with Seth to avoid the trauma. She even knocks out Phantom Stranger. However, it's so she can rip off Seth's pendant, and he dies. The Phantom Stranger then congratulates her, and she decides to go back home to discover herself.
This short film is just great.
There's this underlying theme on how you should take control of your own choices, or you'll otherwise face the consequences. I have a few things to talk about:
The vibe: Yeah, this is an interesting way to start things off. The vibe of this short is very retro, akin to the 1960s. The clothing and minibus van would not feel out of place in Scooby Doo. There's a psychedelic vibe from Seth's party, right down to the hard rock music and heavy rainbow colors. There's more to the vibe then the aesthetics. There's talk about trying to escape the status quo and trying to overcome society to find your own destiny. It all works because it takes time to let you get sucked in.
Marcy and her friends: The thing that really pulls this together is the dynamic that Marcy has with her friends. They're all going to Seth's party in California, specifically as a means of escaping their parents. However, Marcy is quite hesitant. She questions the idea of going to a party from a complete stranger who doesn't even know her. They do seem friendly, but they are lightly pressuring her to go to the party even when she's somewhat uncomfortable with this. They drink and smoke like most teenagers of the time, but she is more mindful of her behavior even if she is somewhat emotionally vulnerable. She's certainly not dumb though since she at least has enough awareness of her environment to be able to fend for herself . To add to this, she doesn't know about her purpose in life, while her friends just want their purpose to be nonstop partying.
Phantom Stranger: Despite the title, the Phantom Stranger is more of a supporting character. Nonetheless, he's certainly a character full of intrigue. Seth claims he's not entirely innocent, and there is some evidence to that. He does genuinely look out for Marcy, but knows her friends aren't pure of heart, and lets them die. However, he still gives off the vibe of a mysterious, wise sage with the gentle yet authoritative tone of his voice.
Seth: Seth is definitely an interesting character. He initially comes across as a genuinely nice guy who just wants others to have fun. He's instead along the lines of a sociopath. He marks his victims with red wine, and kisses them so he can kill them with little resistance. It's all do he can maintain his immortality, which he can do with the Arabus Pendant. He also gives off the vibe of a sexual predator, giving him a whole new level of scary.
So, how does everything come together in the end? Well, when Marcy sees her friends' dead bodies, it initially seems like she wants to be with Seth to avoid the trauma. She even knocks out Phantom Stranger. However, it's so she can rip off Seth's pendant, and he dies. The Phantom Stranger then congratulates her, and she decides to go back home to discover herself.
This short film is just great.