9-21-25 — Christina Critiques GenreBlast Film Festival shorts (Part 4)

Welcome to the newest collection of insanity from some of the coolest writers/directors. Warning: there are a LOT of shenanigans in this review.

Let’s get into them!

Title: THE WEATHERMAN WHO KNEW TOO MUCH

Directed by: Kaylin Allshouse

Country: US         Run Time: 10 minutes

Themes: Truth vs. Happiness

Content Warning: N/A

Synopsis: Barry is having a bad run with his job. It would be OK but he’s a meteorologist and well, plans can be ruined.

Favorite line(s): “Barry, tell me why my cushions are soaked.”

Thoughts: This was not only cute but hilarious. We have all been Barry with having a rough run at life. What is interesting with the film is the world building and characters are so quick that the viewer feels like we have been watching a series and this is the finale. I LOVE that.

Title: SHADOW DANCER

Directed by: Nicki Garton

Country: US         Run Time: 6 minutes

Themes: Secrets, perfection

Content Warning: N/A

Synopsis: Our main female character is practicing for a huge audition the next day but her mind keeps playing tricks on her… or is it?

Favorite line(s): “Leave the other light on, please.”

Thoughts: First, I love that this was in black and white. That decision definitely heightened the unease and made the viewer focus more on the smaller details. The flickering lights, the contrast in the mirrors, and fear in her face. It also leaves so many questions unanswered, which as most of my readers know, I love more than anything. Why is it a big deal that she is going first? Against the men as well? Why has this happened before? An open-ended lovers dream short!

Title: IT BURNS

Directed by:  Kate Maveau

Country: Belgium         Run Time: 11 minutes

Themes: Grief, mourning

Content Warning: death, suicide

Synopsis: The viewer watches a widow as she moves through life without the one that made life worth living.

Favorite line(s): N/A

Thoughts: I can’t lie, this was a very difficult film to watch. Not only because of the lack of dialogue but the sound effects and overall heaviness of the film. Saying that though, it was visually stunning. And can I take a moment to say how impressed I was with the actress. The breakdown we must watch hurt my heart, that pain had to be real as there is no possible way it could have been that visceral. I put in my notes that it was a “soul-breaking cry”. Just stellar from the cinematography and acting, to the direction and writing.

Title: DRAINOMANIA

Directed by: Christopher Greenslate

Country: US         Run Time: 15 minutes

Themes:  Relationships, fear of the unknown

Content Warning: N/A

Synopsis: A woman must come to terms with her inability to move forward with her girlfriend, life, or even cleaning the bathroom.

Favorite line(s): “It’s time.” “Time for what?” “Real life.”

Thoughts: This one took a 180 from what I thought it was going to be and I loved it! The writer/director forces the viewer to question not only the character but themselves. “Am I watching this correctly?” “Is she unreliable?” “Shit, am I as a viewer?” It reminded me a bit of THE CHRISTMAS CAROL with the ghosts of the past visiting her to motivate a change. But imagine it being set during a bathroom cleaning. I promise you, it works so freakin’ well. Kudos to these actresses as well. I will always look at a toilet as a female body now. IYKYK.

Title: THERE’S GOLD IN THEM HILLS

Directed by: Jonathan David Austin

Country: Canada         Run Time: 10 minutes

Themes: Greed, family

Content Warning: Death

Synopsis: Cyress and Alvin go in search of a better life together in the hills promising gold. But not everything that glitters is gold.

Favorite line(s): “Toast to gold, guts, and glory.”

Thoughts: Oh, friends. The bamboozle bam.boozled. Holy crap. What really grabs the viewer is twofold: the acting of Cyress and how we just get a vibe that isn’t good from him (it’s in the eyes for sure) and the way the writer/director brings everything full circle with little details throughout. Plus, it’s such beautiful settings - the desert, the beautiful home, everything had the Midas touch in a way. Brilliant from start to finish.

Title: SUGARTITS

Directed by: Heath Benfield

Country: US         Run Time: 8 minutes

Themes: … the perfect woman?

Content Warning: Fucking teeth, man, lol.

Synopsis: A man is on the hunt for the perfect woman. And he just wants to take a little from every woman he meets. Is that such a crime?

Favorite line(s): “Be a shame to waste such a beautiful smile.”

Thoughts: When I realized this was my next review, I started cackling. What an odd but hilarious short. Also, extremely disturbing. GOD, I HATE TEETH! And the man licks them. (Why am I typing this out!? It’s making me cringe all over again.) Sure, the guy is terrible. Sure, the revenge happens. But there are teeth and that just makes it wrong. I loved to hate this one. Well done by all involved, lol. I won’t forget SUGARTITS for a long time to come.

Title: THE LITTERBUG

Directed by: Jesse Womack

Country: US         Run Time: 9 minutes

Themes: Littering

Content Warning: Death

Synopsis: Charlotte, the park ranger, is training the new girl. Unfortunately, this training day doesn’t have Denzel or Ethan but it does have the Litterbug.

Favorite line(s): “This shit wasn’t in the Ranger Handbook!”

Thoughts: First, Jesse, nice crotch shots, friend. The cackles I cackled and the faces of the actresses, brilliant. “It’s Chief!” The viewer can’t help but love every single moment of this bizarro insanity. It’s creative, hilarious, and so well done. Plus, it’s a beautiful backdrop to the juxtaposition of the script. The ending? Chef’s kiss.

Title: BURNED CANS FOR ALUMINUM CHILDREN

Directed by:  Robert Kleinschmidt

Country: US         Run Time: 2 minutes

Themes: (From my notes) WTF

Content Warning: um… demons?

Synopsis: A group of children are subject to sacrifice and it gets bloody.

Favorite line(s): N/A

Thoughts:  I laughed the whole two minutes of this film. What. The. Actual. Fuck? I mean, the time it took to a claymation of this has to be staggering. There’s even one kid that the face melts off… and keep in mind, it’s claymation. It starts out adorable, kids playing and it’s colorful, brings a sense of nostalgia… until it doesn’t. I’m so impressed with the whole film. I would love to know how long it took. Insane and perfect.

Title: DEMON

Directed by: C. Michael Whaley

Country: US         Run Time: 16 minutes

Themes: Demons, religious and existential crisises

Content Warning: self- harm, demon summoning

Synopsis: Our main character wants to summon a demon so he can sell his soul for the love of his life to love him back. Things get very philosophical.

Favorite line(s): “Virgin blood? Fuck that’s rare.” “Jesus Christ! It tastes like sadness.”

Thoughts: This is like the TEMU version of demon summoning and I was 100% there for it. Imagine making a summoning circle with ketchup and using tea light candles, LMAO. Then when he does get his demon, he’s a sassy fucker. That not only makes fun of you, but makes you have a religious and existential crisis. And the religious stuff makes the viewer go, “um… why is this making sense?” At the end, the viewer is left with the question, which one is actually the demon?