PopHorror Let's Get Scared
The horror shorts premiering at the Brooklyn Horror Film Festival have been nothing short of amazing. The same can be said for the Ink, a story unlike anything I’ve seen before, which premiered on October 14th at the BHFF.
Ink is a disturbingly heartbreaking horror short directed and written by Ashlea Wessel starring Mishka Balilty.
Ink Official Synopsis
A traumatized woman seeks penance and personal transformation through tattooing after surviving a devastating pregnancy. One night, drenched in booze and ink, her deepest fears threaten to consume her.
I’ve watched Ink a few times now and each time, I notice something different. As I previously mentioned, it’s not like any film I’ve ever seen before. It haunted me quietly, almost like a shadow. It’s a disturbingly beautiful story with layers of emotion and a great female lead.
Everyone has their vices, and sometimes to get through the pain, we indulge in them a little too much. Balilty delivers a convincing and emotional performance as someone who has given up hope on everything. She is drowning her sorrows with tattoos and hard liquor, which is only making things worse and causing reality to blur.
There’s one scene in particular that stood out to me. She’s in the bathtub and the water turns completely black. All hell is about to break loose and in that moment, the contrast of colors (black and purple) along with heightened emotions, is disturbingly beautiful. It’s such a memorable scene that keeps flashing through my mind: the fear in her eyes, the water splashing up against the tub and circling around her, and the dreamlike sequence of it all.
Final Thoughts
Ink may only have a run time of 10 minutes, but it will stay with you long after it’s over. Instead of blood and gore, it delivers a psychological drama that will mess with your head and play with your fears. Definitely give it a watch when you can!
