Facebook Twitter Instagram YouTube
    HORRORSCREAMS VIDEOVAULT – SUPPORTING INDEPENDENT HORROR
    • Home
    • Film Reviews
      • Films Beginning With Numbers or Symbols
      • A – C
      • D – F
      • G – I
      • J – L
      • M – O
      • P – R
      • S – U
      • V – X
      • Y – Z
    • Book Reviews
    • Franchise Corner
    • Competitions
    • Horror Screams Podcast
    • Contact Us
    Facebook Twitter Instagram YouTube
    HORRORSCREAMS VIDEOVAULT – SUPPORTING INDEPENDENT HORROR

    Film Review: THE SHIPMENT (2018) (Short Film)

    Peter 'Witchfinder' HopkinsBy Peter 'Witchfinder' Hopkins21st July 2019Updated:21st July 2019No Comments2 Mins Read

    THE SHIPMENT **** Canada 2018 Dir: Bobby Bala. 27 mins

    Ambition is not lacking in writer-director Bobby Bala’s Canadian short: the dialogue-free first five minutes begins with a breath-taking establishing shot worthy of a big budget major studio spectacular. It never quite tops this initial transition, but does establish its world, characters and story arc in a concise, engaging way.
    Mandy Patinkin-lookalike Aleks Paunovic is an ex slave trader desperately trying to make ends meet as an interplanetary cargo hauler. He’s running out of money and fuel, and most of all needs to provide for his beloved daughter (Ishana Bala) in the absence of a maternal figure. Courtesy of a “cargo rat”, he is given an opportunity of a $700,000 transporting job that regrettably invokes his earlier, regretted career and involves a catch of slaves accompanied by a towering “mutant” co-pilot. Bala’s film has terrific visual effects, impressive creatures (notably the eel-like parasite) and appealing performances by the handsome Paunovic and the empathetic Ishana Bala. The core villain, as portrayed by Omari Newton, is a little underwhelming and mannered, and although it’s refreshing to see a movie in this genre with such heart (and a weepie resolution) it does at times feel a tad lacking in high-stakes tension and drama. Nonetheless, the characters are worth rooting for, it’s never mean-spirited and, as a visual calling card for its filmmaker, it scores high.

    Review by Steven West

    Facebook0Like0Share0Tweet0Pin0
    Bobby Bala Sci-Fi Science Fiction Short Film The Shipment

    Related Posts

    ATTACK OF THE 50 FOOT CAMGIRL busts out on to DVD and Blu-ray

    9th June 202202 Mins Read
    Read More

    The Brain From Planet Arous (1957) arrives on special-edition Blu-ray + DVD, 21st June

    8th June 202203 Mins Read
    Read More

    Film Review: CANINE (2018) (Short Film)

    24th May 202202 Mins Read
    Read More

    Film Review: A FERAL WORLD (2020)

    10th May 202203 Mins Read
    Read More

    Leave A Reply Cancel Reply

    You must be logged in to post a comment.

    Search The Website
    Recent Posts
    • TEN YEAR ANNIVERSARY CUT OF “DEADLY REVISIONS” ANNOUNCED!
    • Augie Duke from Mayans MC and Stand-Up Comedy Star Jiaoying Summers Join Cast of “Static Codes”
    • “Get Out Of The Toybox!” – DOLL SHARK makes a big splash on Indiegogo
    • Official trailer released for Ozploitation classic ‘Fair Game’ which returns to the big screen this July
    • Interview with Chris Sivertson, director of MONSTROUS, ahead of UK release
    Archives
    Facebook Twitter Instagram YouTube

    Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.