"Familiar" and Being Eaten From the Inside Out: A Short Film Review

*full disclosure: an online screener of this film was provided by producer Zach Green.

Director/writer: Richard Powell.

Cast: Robert Nolan, Astrida Auza and Cathryn Hostick.

"Familiar" is the third film to be developed by Fatal Pictures. "Worm" was their previous outing and a review of this film is available here: (Worm Review). Much like "Worm," "Familiar" stars Robert Nolan as a very negative individual full of unexpressed resentment. His resentment takes form as a parasite wrapped around his body. Some self-surgery places this short film in the realm of psychological horror.

Nolan plays John Dodd a man in his '40s struggling through a mid-life crisis. He is tired of his wife and his daughter. He wants out but he does not have a plan. However, John does have a really negative voice whispering in his ear. It demands that he kill his wife and run away from it all. John's inner world is in conflict. Then, a growth begins to form on his body and John must cut his torso to rid himself of some sort of worm. Who is in control of John: himself or the parasite?

The parasites seems to win in the end and John is left with only a few final bloody moments. John is really central to the story; other characters are simply more of an aside. Almost all of the dialogue is solo as John struggles internally with his life's direction. His good seems to trump the bad involving: resentment, jealousy, apathy, boredom and many other negative human elements and emotions. Charlotte is John's wife and this character is only given a few lines. Yet, Charlotte does have a sub-plot involving a pregnancy. Something is gooing wrong with the birth, as well. Finally, the daughter, Jordan, is only given a few moments of screen time and her character stays comfortably on the periphery. This is a film about John, after all.

Thematically, the parasite represents the negativity of John's inner world or in a wider realm - cancer as the worm seems to be eating John alive. Where the parasite comes from is not explained so any investigation is based on conjecture, not evidence. Negativity was also a theme in Richard Powell's previous film "Worm," and its reoccurence seems to be more of an issue generated by this filmmaker than anything else. So, the film's message lies with Powell who might need to deliver his next film's message in a more obvious fashion to have greater impact.

"Familiar" has been completed for a few months now, so expect this film to make film festivals this year. This short is worth a watch, but the earlier parts of the film can be a little on the hostile side. The latter parts are visually horrifying. As noted by other reviewers, this film seems sourced or influenced by some of David Cronenberg's work such as The Fly or Naked Lunch. The make-up effects are excellent. Also, short in length at twenty-four minutes, this is a short and bitterly sweet film that might leave a few scratching their heads. However, the best films leave viewers guessing or using their personal interpretations to dissect what they have seen.

Overall: 7 out of 10 (overly negative, very similar to "Worm," the film's message is a little confusing, there is really only one character here).

The film's fan page is here:

Familiar at Facebook

More on "Familiar" at Fatal Pictures Blog:

Familiar at Fatal Pictures

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