Slit (2016 Horror Short) – Appearances Can Be Deceiving

I love horror shorts and I also love supporting women in the horror industry. Therefore, in honor of Women in Horror Month, I’ve been researching and watching films made by women or with strong women leads. One of them that I came across was the Japanese horror short Slit (2016).

Slit was written and directed by Pablo Absento who was also the lead actress in the film along with Steven LeFever. In just around 9 minutes, a disturbingly beautiful story is told that leaves you questioning what is going on and leaving you wanting more. Everything about this film proves that shorts can deliver an eerie and unique story with a small time frame while executing stunning cinematography, well-made special effects, and more.

Official Synopsis:

“The film tells about a part of a famous urban legend which is believed to be based on true events. A strange character walking around the empty streets was terrifying locals in 70s-80s of the last century. Rumors of alleged sightings began spreading around the Nagasaki prefecture, then spread throughout Japan and caused panic in many towns.”

I love urban legends and I had never heard of this one, so this was a treat. The opening credits graphic design were done by Minoru Nitta and they were breathtaking and visually stimulating. The graphics and detail engaged me and made me want to know more. Along with this, the theme music by Eric Elick was intimidating and eerie, mixing well with its surroundings.

Pablo Absento’s character was unusual, strong, and badass… definitely one lady you don’t want to mess with. As the story goes on, you see the Woman (Absento) getting ready for work (or that’s what we assume) yet the camera avoids her face completely until she puts on a white mask over her mouth, leaving the audience full of mystery and wonder. She speaks very little until the end, yet her gestures and attention to detail dominate the screen and you want to know her story.

I loved the ending! It was fun, shocking, and not at all what I expected. SFX Makeup Artist Mathieu Dausmann did a killer job with the Woman’s character. This situation reminds me of how dudes on the internet are so quick to flirt with a chick not knowing her story. Sometimes you have to watch out because first appearances can be deceiving.

Final Thoughts:

Pablo Absento is a talented writer, director, producer, and actress in the film industry and we’re honored to have her work in the genre. What she did with Slit shows she has a great eye for horror and telling a story even in a short amount of time. I can’t wait to see all the rest of her features and look forward to her future endeavors! You can check out Slit out for yourself by clicking – here.