Gig Economy Gets a Horrific Makeover

Read Time:3 Minute, 52 Second

MOVIE REVIEW
DeadDash
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Genre: Horror, Short
Year Released: 2023
Runtime: 12m
Director(s): Devan Schoelen
Writer(s): Devan Schoelen
Cast: Devan Schoelen, Stef Beaton, Maria Olsen, Carolina Reynoso, Tyler Fairbank
Where To Watch: currently in the middle of its film festival run, follow deaddash_film on Instagram for more information

RAVING REVIEW: DEADDASH shakes up the slasher scene with a clever fusion of horror on a budget, turning a regular evening ordering out into a fight for survival. It offers a unique perspective on the genre, tackling the modern twist of technology into the storyline with an app starting the film's dominos.

In DEADDASH, we dive deep into the dark side of Hollywood, where a typical delivery gig morphs into an intense struggle for life. The narrative introduces us to Sean, a delivery driver and aspiring actor, played by writer/director Devan Schoelen. His night turns dire when a seemingly innocuous delivery leads him into a sinister plot orchestrated by a shadowy adversary.

Schoelen, stepping into the director's shoes for the first time, leverages his affinity for horror and personal industry insights to craft an eerie dive into the world of gig workers. DEADDASH stands out by injecting a punch of humor into the spine-chilling suspense typical of the genre.

The film starts on a high note, with an unsettling encounter for Sean, ultimately setting the stage for his last delivery—one he wouldn’t have thought twice about before. The film integrates a food delivery app as a pivotal element of its plot, updating the traditional slasher framework for the digital age.

Schoelen's cinematic debut pays homage to the slasher classics while bringing his unique flair to the genre. The atmosphere he creates is both familiar and innovative, filled with tension and fear. As the stakes escalate, Sean finds himself in an elaborate trap that showcases Schoelen's ability to ramp up suspense and maintain audience engagement from start to finish.

DEADDASH casts a critical eye on the gig economy's inherent risks, making it fun and thought-provoking. The narrative keeps viewers on edge; thanks to a sharp script that balances its horror elements with a short runtime, the film manages to do just enough to be a proof of concept for a larger world.

The movie does an admirable job at visual storytelling, utilizing the urban nighttime setting to enhance the sense of peril that lurks around every corner. The choice of lighting and camera angles not only amplifies the suspense but also artfully portrays the isolation and vulnerability of our protagonist. This aesthetic choice serves to deepen the viewer's empathy for Sean, making each twist in his journey feel more intense and personal.

The film explores Schoelen's creative vision and ideas for reinventing established horror conventions. Mixing suspense, terror, and more, DEADDASH sets the stage for Schoelen to continue pushing the boundaries of horror storytelling.

However, DEADDASH sometimes skirts close to parody, particularly in portraying its villain, whose over-the-top appearance sometimes undermines the menacing vibe. While intended to lighten the mood, this element occasionally disrupts the film's tension-building. The brief runtime of just 12 minutes also leaves several narrative threads to be explored, leaving viewers wanting more depth and development. In the long run, I feel like this would be a perfect segment within a film or even an anthology.

Nonetheless, DEADDASH demonstrates considerable potential as a foundation for more expansive horror narratives, suggesting that Schoelen could enrich this budding horror universe with more time and development.

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