This was an entrant for ABCs of Death

Chris Nash, has kindly given permission for Influx Magazine to host his film here, but viewer discretion is advised. This film is not for the faint-hearted.

I love short films. It pares down the essence of filmmaking into its bare minimum, allowing filmmakers to work at peak efficiency. Whenever attending a film festival, it’s always on my list to check out the shorts, as it can often be a window to view the next big director in the years ahead.

Drafthouse Films celebrated horror in its short form in its audacious ABCs of Death anthology, and opened the film up for aspiring filmmakers to compete in becoming an addition to its sordid lot of lunacy.

T Is for Thread
Written & Directed by
Chris Nash
Cast
Robert Calwell, Jay Clarke, Delphine Roussel
Initial Release Date
2011
Rob’s Grade: B+

One of the films that was in the running was a nasty (and I mean that in the best possible way) little bucket of blood called T Is for Thread, directed by Canadian filmmaker Chris Nash. In just under five minutes, he crafted a brutal smackdown of materialism while delivering a healthy dose of gore in the process.

In it, a well-heeled older woman is seeking her latest bou of cosmetic surgery in time for an upcoming reunion (she is played by the already lovely Delphine Roussel). Her doctor warns her of the consequences, but she’s determined to upstage her peers for the evening and proceeds anyway.

When pressed for time on the big night, she makes a series of misjudgements that lead to a Rube Goldberg series of miscalculations that bring down her plan. And Nash is there to catch every gory detail of the downfall.
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The film takes a successful stab (pun intended) at the obsession of “more,” be it material items, such as high-priced art, or time in order to extended youth just a wee bit more despite nature marching on.

Nash adds an added kick at the conclusion that makes the entire film a must from start to finish for anyone who is interested in watching how to wring out winces of fear in an audience. For a flick that features a compulsion of time, Nash manages to make the most of his.

Review by Rob Rector, Lead Entertainment Writer