The Film (4/5)

    Dan Wilder has been kicking around the underground and independent horror scene for some time now. He has been working as a reviewer for various outlets including That's Not Current, Famous Monsters of Filmland, among others. All the while working as a screenwriter on low budget horror and other genre offerings. He has now debuted with his first horror short Mercury Screams which blends elements of 1980's horror television, with the abstract elements from the European horror of the 1970's and 80's to create something quite interesting right out of the gate.

    Mercury Screams plays out like a reenactment clip from a long lost 80's Sightings-esque true to life supernatural show. It depicts a couple (Sarah Zimmer and Wayne W. Johnson) who move to a new cemetery-side house after a miscarriage. The couple appear to be going through domestic issues as a result of said miscarriage, and between their issues and the new house in the creepy location strange things begin to occur.

    Mercury Screams runs about 6 minutes in length, but uses its running time quite wisely. Using the format of a lost TV show allows it to have an interesting visual style that blends 80's television with a VHS aesthetic. The performances from Johnson and Zimmer fit the TV reenactment mood quite well. The overall look of the film, especially when things begin to happen (trying not to spoil) is quite atmospheric and effective, and channels directors like Mario Bava on a shoestring budget. Overall, if this is a first short, I can't wait to see what Wilder does next in the genre.