Fun Sized Terrors: Part I - The Dummy

     Stephen King once likened reading a novel to a love affair, while reading a short story was much like a quick kiss in the dark. I think that short films are very much that same. Sure you can go to the theater and sit for 90 to 180 minutes in the dark watching a feature film. When you emerge into the world you will (hopefully) have felt like you transported to another world or a part of someone else's life for a period of time.

Short films however, are something entirely different. There's no time to get to know the character(s) involved. There's no time for exposition. You are simply placed into a situation with no explanation (or very little) and you're along for a brief moment in time.

When it comes to the short horror film, that moment in time is usually someone's darkest moment, adding a voyeuristic ambiance to the proceedings.

Tonight I'm shining a spotlight on a little gem that used to air on HBO and USA back in the day.  See, back in the 80's sometimes a movie or program would run short, leaving a hole in the programming. That's when these little shorts would pop up, usually late at night.|

Tonight's offering is a little slice of terror called The Dummy.
It is simplicity itself.  A ventriloquist dummy comes to life and terrifies a woman in her apartment.
It's got a bit of a Trilogy of Terror, Zuni Fetish Doll kinda feel, but I think that it's all the more terrifying in that it's not some exotic doll, but something rather more commonplace that still holds an air of horror to it.  Ventriloquist dummies, much like clowns are oft maligned.

Watch and see for yourself.





Sleep tight!