Michael S. Rodriguez’s ‘Dealings’ (2021) – Movie Review

We just got word that Filmmaker Michael S. Rodriguez, the guy behind Lamb Feed, Night of the Sea Monkey, Lake of Shadows, and The Last American Horror Show franchise, has released a brand new short called Dealings. We’re used to seeing killer creatures in Rodriguez’s films, but it seems as though Dealings has more to do with the human monster.

There are four things a person has more than they know… sins, debt, years, and foes…

Synopsis:

In this neo noir thriller, a business owner hires help to keep tabs on his wife and perhaps an additional service after some unpleasant news is brought back to him. However, plans change as a chain of unpredictable events begin to unfold and everyone is a suspect in some sort of DEALINGS.

Dealings was directed by Michael S. Rodriguez (Last American Horror Show franchise) and produced by Rodriguez and Artour Pogosian. Both the director and co-producer star in the short as well as DT Carney (Rattlers 2 2021 – read our review here), Manuel Ramirez, Samantha Wolf, Sparkle Soojian, Jener SaSilva, Mark MacPherson, and Lonnie Pelley. The short’s suspenseful score was composed by YouTube Homeboy.

Dealings starts off rather simply with Anton Chigurh-esque Navajo Joe (Ramirez) stopping by a local bar to talk to the owner. I thought to myself, “Well, he’s either going to walk in there and kill him, or the guy in back is going to pay him for some nefarious job that he’s finished.” I was half right. But that wasn’t the end of the story. As a matter of fact, it went on much longer than I thought possible. Such a surprising and satisfying twist. Plus there’s a nasty little eyeball-related death that had me squirming in my seat.

If you’re looking for something that’s short, tight and tied in a Gordian knot, look no further than the 19 minute short, Dealings.