SPECIAL REPORT - Christina Critiques - GenreBlast Film Festival 2026: Part 7
Title: THE RESERVOIR
Directed by: Jack Gardner King
Country: US Run Time: 15 mins
Synopsis: A group of friends enjoy a lake but that same lake holds secrets that only one knows the truth about.
Favorite line: “Maybe I can see my sister, Rebecca.”
Thoughts: King brings the suspense in this short film. Between the confusion of the characters and the growing tension, the viewer is left on the edge of their seat. And the bamboozles? Plentiful.
Actor to watch for: Nate - Jay Wilson
Title: BLOSSOM NEEDS A RIDE HOME
Directed by: Tim Schwagel
Country: US Run Time: 9 mins
Synopsis: Blossom just wants to get home but she’ll be damned if it is going to be easy.
Favorite line: “It’s almost 6 p.m., you lying sack of shit.”
Thoughts: I LOVED THIS SO MUCH! The acting from Reanna Madson (Blossom) was so damn good. It’s the heroes journey but make it a woman and add in a bit of a DALE AND TUCKER VS. EVIL feel. Brilliant, creative, and hilarious.
Actor to watch for: Blossom - Reanna Madson and The Chef - Ben Ruyle
A TOP TEN TO WATCH
Title: NEEDLE
Directed by: Sofie Somoroff
Country: US Run Time: 5 mins
Synopsis: A woman wants to make the perfect dress from a pattern her grandma sent… but it just doesn’t seem to go right.
Favorite line: N/A
Thoughts: Talk about the perfect combination of horror and the traps of beauty standards - whether self-imposed or societal. The writing, directing, and acting were all beautifully executed. Also, if you are not a fan of needles, this will be a rough watch. (I grimaced so many times during it.) Extremely timely while being unnerving.
Actor to watch for: Woman - Celina Gray Bernstein
Title: RECIPROCITY FAILURE
Directed by: Brandon Brummell
Country: US Run Time: 14 mins
Synopsis: A man comes back home after a tragedy befalls his family but something isn’t quite right with the house or the surviving member.
Favorite line: “This is where I talk to them.”
Thoughts: Ever watched something and not only does the movie intend to make you feel off center - like something’s not right - but also makes you an unreliable viewer? I love when films do that! The ability for both actors to just… make you side eye them the whole time - chef’s kiss.
Title: TOTAL PARTY KILL
Directed by: Alan Sanchez
Country: US Run Time: 16 mins
Synopsis: A Dungeons and Dragons finale turns more deadly with the roll of each die.
Favorite line: “It wasn’t a compliment. That shit is nightmare fuel.”
“This is why I shop independent.”
Thoughts: Oh. My. God. If you love ANY type of TTG (table top game), you need to watch for TPK. I laughed so damn hard and then had to pick my jaw off the ground with one specific kill. I honestly could have watched these ladies act for another 2 hours with the way the played off of each other and the stellar performance. Can we PLEASE get a full length film from this one? I’ll start the petition.
Actor to watch for: Laura - Fayna Sanchez (you will see her name two more times because this actress kills every scene she is in. She’s a scene stealer and I love watching her on screen.)
A TOP TEN TO WATCH
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