The 2017 short filmBackstrokemay have a simple plot, but its cinematography, tension, and atmosphere make for an unsettling watch that anyone interested can easily see for themselves. When people think of short films, they may go straight tothe famous Pixar shortsthat have opened their features sinceToy Story, or they may think of the wealth of amateur horror short films that can easily be found on YouTube, or they may be only thinking of the incredibly well-executed movies that appear in the Oscar races. There’s no shortage of short films to watch.
And there shouldn’t be. Short movies are the perfect testing ground for experimental filmmaking anda way for new filmmakers without access to funds, time, or equipment to show their chops in the medium. Others just prefer the format. Take Robbie Barclay’s 2017 short filmBackstroke, which stars Josefine Christoffersen as Amber and Shemar Jonas as Jake. This is the third short film from Barclay, who also wrote and directed the shortDwellingin 2019. At 10 minutes,Backstrokeis just enough time to tell a hair-raising tale.
Backstroke Follows Two Teen Runaways Who Go For A Swim
A Skinny-Dipping Session Turns Sinister
The beginning ofBackstrokeopens with two teens, Jake and Amber, running out of a house and stealing a car while Amber’s mother leaves desperate and pleading messages for her to stay. Laughing as they drive away, it’s revealed that the pair plan to drive to Florida and start a new life. On the way, they find a pistol in the glove compartment and decide to stop in the woods to try it out.
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A few scenes of inadvisable horseplay later, Amber takes off into the woods for a game of hide and seek and decides to go skinny-dipping when she finds a scenic reservoir while she waits for Jake to find her. When she comes up out of the water, instead of Jake, she sees someone else, an unnamed man played by Tom Frank, and he has some questions for Amber.
If You’re A Fan Of I Know What You Did Last Summer, You’ll Like Backstroke
Backstroke Is A Tense, Classic Thriller
Backstrokeis a light on its feet cautionary tale about reckless behavior, though, at its heart, it’s mostly just a tight thriller that continuously ups the tension until the very last frame of the film. Fans ofhorror movies likeI Know What You Did Last Summerand other shows and films that feature teens making a series of small mistakes that eventually lead to major trouble will enjoyBackstroke.
Lynn Sher provides the voice of the woman on the phone pleading with Amber, presumably her mother.
There is not anything particularly novel about the film, but Barclay’s over-the-shoulder film style, which has faces coming in and out of frame, makes the viewer feel like an omniscient presence who knows what’s going to happen before the characters do. The filmmaking forces the viewers to accept that Amber is sliding down a steep slope even if she doesn’t recognize it yet andthat feeling of helplessness makesBackstrokework better than any horror film gimmick possibly could.
You Can Watch Backstroke On YouTube Or Vimeo
Backstroke Is Free To Stream On These Services
For those interested in watchingBackstroke, the short film is easily accessible onVimeoand onYouTubefor free.Backstrokeis a mature movie with adult themes and is much better suited for older audiences.Backstroke’s simple plot, tense atmosphere, and invasive filmmaking style are the reasons to watch it, and it’s worth 10 minutes of anyone’s time.
