Available on Shudder

by Jessie Landivar Prescott

Question, are anthology film collections the new buffets of our Covid-ravaged world?

We’ll get back to that shortly. If you feel like you’re missing out on the cool happenings in the wide world of cinema it's because you are. We all are, but, I mean, there’s nothing we can do about it except pray that our buddies within the industry keep coming up with ways to satisfy our movie appetites. Thankfully, the Los Angeles based Etheria Film Night showcase has partnered up with the good people at Shudder to bring us their showcase of short horror, sci-fi & thriller films.

Etheria Film Night was started in 2014 by Heidi Honeycutt, Stacy Pippi Hammon and Kayley Viteo. Since then, they have put on an annual festival of genre shorts created by women filmmakers. This year’s collection boasts 9 titles that can be seen from June 19th through July 20th. You can view the trailer here.

So, back to the question of buffets and short films. My first introduction to an anthology collection of short films was only a few years ago. It was a horror anthology of shorts directed by women, obviously not a buffet but a fun little collection to watch nonetheless. On the other hand, the Etheria FF Shorts is THE collection of short films that you want to watch if you are missing your local China Buffet. Movies are food? YES. Nod. 100%. Let me recommend a couple of the dishes served up in the Etheria hot bar.

Waffle directed by Carlyn Hudson is my pick for the dark comedy/horror fans that love a clever little plot twist early on in the story. If a story is executed right you don’t necessarily need a big cast, and Waffle proves that you need only syrup and butter to make it alright. Next pick for your film food fantasy is The Final Girl Returns directed by Alexandria Perez. Easily the coolest and scariest short of the bunch, the director shows off her influences, think Nicolas Winding Refn’s Drive meets David Lynch. The storyline is surreal, the main character drives a “final girl” to her demise in a very cool American muscle car, all that on sun bleached California desert roads. SWOON. You will finish that box of popcorn and by the end want an ice cream sundae to sweeten up your terrified mind. The remaining 7 (!) shorts in the collection feature loads of gore, existential questions, gorgeous visuals and morality plays. Truly, there are options for tastes and appetites of all kinds here.

Shudder is partnering with Etheria to host this year’s lineup of shorts from June 19–July 20. Click here for more info on how to watch the flicks.