BUFF 2018: ‘Happy Birthday, Brenda’ – Horror Short Review

I have absolutely loved covering all of the films that I was able to for The Boston Underground Film Festival. Each one so vastly different than the last. I am awestruck with how awesome all of these films were. The last one that I personally will be covering is no exception to attest to how great this festival is. Director Rory Abel gives us quite the gift with his horror short Happy Birthday, Brenda. Let me describe what kind of present he is delivering.

Synopsis of Happy Birthday, Brenda:

Harold who is a loving husband, gives his wife Brenda an unorthodox gift for her birthday. Their relationship is put to the test when Harold wants the gift for himself. 

Happy Birthday, Brenda was certainly not at all what I was expecting. It is one of those fun gory shorts that give the horror fiend exactly what they are looking for when it comes to watching a horror film. The chemistry between Brenda (Cristina Rambaldi) and Harold (Theodore Copeland) is undeniable. They play off each other extremely well. Not to mention the third party Walter (Toby Levin) who may not have had lines but was very believable in his given role. I wanted to know more about these characters and how this situation in this film came about.

I love how this film makes you want to pick sides between Harold and Brenda. It’s a fun spin with a great twist and ending that you won’t see coming in the slightest. Does love really conquer all? Or do inner demons really win?

The effects were so cringe-worthy good, I literally let out sounds of disgust! (That’s a good thing!) Abel delivers with his characters, shots, and storytelling as a complete whole.

Final Thoughts:

Happy Birthday, Brenda is a fun fast paced found footage style horror film. I think this one will be well enjoyed by all horror genre buffs. It has a little bit of everything! I wish there had been more backstory, but that is just me trying to wrack my own brain. Sometimes things are a lot more disturbing without a backstory and this one is absolutely disturbing in the best way possible!