Navigating the Denial of Decay

Read Time:3 Minute, 58 Second

MOVIE REVIEW
COLD
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Genre: Horror, Short
Year Released: 2024
Runtime: 20m
Director(s): Elizabeth Whitmere
Writer(s): Elizabeth Whitmere
Cast: Melanie Scrofano, Sean Baek, Stephanie Belding, Peter Keleghan, Rayisa Kondracki, Chelsea Muirhead
Where To Watch: showing at the 2024 Female Eye Film Festival; for more information, visit @thisfilmiscold on Instagram

RAVING REVIEW: Elizabeth "Liz" Whitmere returns to the director's chair with COLD. This film captures the essence of societal indifference and medical neglect toward women's health in a compact 20-minute narrative. It is anchored by riveting performances from Melanie Scrofano and Peter Keleghan, who convey the nuances of enforced optimism and society's stark realities of being overlooked.

In COLD, Scrofano embodies Jane, a character who continues her day-to-day life even though she died last week. She didn’t notice, and nobody else wanted to admit it. This eerie premise sets the stage for a story that uses Jane's condition as a poignant metaphor for women's often ignored and trivialized health concerns. Jane’s circle, filled with denial and superficiality, reflects a societal norm where the appearance of health is prioritized over actual well-being. The fake it until you make it mantra has become an everyday standard, and seeking help still has a horrible taboo behind it.

The film unfolds with a narrative intensity that brings the audience close to Jane’s struggle. Through scenes that portray her using duct tape to hold herself together literally, Whitmere crafts a visual metaphor for the extreme measures people take to conform to societal expectations of beauty. This imagery enhances the film’s thematic depth and invites viewers to scrutinize the destructive nature of these norms.

The thematic resonance of COLD extends beyond its immediate narrative, tapping into a broader cultural discourse on how society handles women's aging and health. The film does an exceptional job of subtly and impactfully portraying these themes, drawing comparisons to other works in the genre yet standing out due to its poignant execution. Unlike many films that explore similar subjects, COLD doesn't shy away from the discomforting aspects of its themes. It forces the audience to confront uncomfortable truths about how aging women are perceived and treated in contemporary society. This bold storytelling approach is complemented by a screenplay that balances drama with moments of stark realism, making the film a narrative experience and a significant social commentary. This depth ensures that COLD resonates with audiences, leaving them to ponder the real-world implications long after the credits roll.

Scrofano’s portrayal of Jane’s internal turmoil is contrasted starkly with Keleghan’s Dr. Niedorzezny, a character who exemplifies the often dismissive and patronizing attitudes prevalent in the medical community toward women's health. Sean Baek’s performance as Theo further enriches this dynamic, adding a layer of authenticity to the film’s exploration of denial and authenticity.

COLD is more than just a narrative about individual hardship; it is a critical observation of the systemic failures that impact women's health. Whitmere’s film is a call to awareness and a well-crafted piece of cinema that challenges viewers to consider the impact of societal and medical neglect. It’s an essential watch for anyone interested in entertaining films that engage with significant social issues and provoke thoughtful discussion. If I had to pick something as negative, I would only say that I was left wanting more; there’s so much to this story, and I can only hope a feature film may one day be in the works.

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[photo courtesy of MIXED STATE PRODUCTIONS]

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