Screamfest 2018: ‘Here There Be Monsters’ Short Movie Review

October was insanely busy, but we’re wrapping our coverage for festivals all around the world, including the 2018 Screamfest Film Festival. One of the horror stories we had the privilege of covering for this event is Here There Be Monsters.

This brilliant horror short was written/directed by Drew Macdonald and was produced by Steve Geddes. The cast includes Savannah Foran-McDaniel, Jordan Small, Tyallah Bullock, and Toby Barron.

Official Synopsis for Here There Be Monsters:

To escape incessant bullying on the bus ride home, a young girl falls asleep only to wake up trapped at an empty bus yard with something lurking outside – something big – and if she wants to make it out alive, this frightened girl will have to unleash a monster of her own.

Over the last few years, I’ve found my love for indie horror films and often find them far more fascinating than anything mainstream. I love it all, but there’s something truly beautiful about indie horror and all the work that goes into it. As it stands, 2018 is almost over, and I’ve seen a plethora of films (too many to count). I can say with absolute certainty that Here There Be Monsters is one of my favorite ones thus far this year.

Drew Macdonald created a beautifully written script that is heartbreaking, raw, and cringeworthy. To top it off, it has a great cast along with phenomenal cinematography and special effects. In less than 15 minutes, it captured my attention from beginning to end, left me wanting more, and made me feel a roller coaster of emotions. Not something every film can do, especially in such a short period of time.

However, what made this film stand out above all others is the brilliant performance delivered by Savannah Foran-McDaniel who plays Elki. Her performance blew me away. Her character goes through hell, but she holds her head high, despite her bully’s attempt to break her spirit. Then, when encountered with another type of monster, she fights back even though she’s trembling with fear, exhaustion, and humility. Her courageous spirit is inspiring and one that shouldn’t go unnoticed. Savannah doesn’t say much throughout the film, but her expressions and gestures are brilliantly raw and realistic. You feel connected to her. This is one of the best performances of the year.

I also love the monster. It was gruesome and looked like the spawn of fear, something from a nightmare that can’t be explained. The special effects makeup and costume design were wicked. However, the monster creature wasn’t nearly as terrifying as the atrocities that occurred on the bus ride home.

Final Thoughts on Here There Be Monsters:

Here There Be Monsters is a must-see, hands downs. I feel like it has a lot of meaning behind it and it can be interpreted in many ways, but the story is horrifyingly beautiful. Savannah Foran-McDaniel delivers a performance worthy of an Oscar. I’m not sure when it will be released to the public, as the film is currently doing a festival run. Keep your eyes peeled and continue to follow them on Facebook, and we will continue to give you updates on the short as well more horror news, reviews, interviews daily!