Movies: In Conspectu: Short Film Journal Vol. 1

 

Welcome to a recurring series of short film reviews here on Moon Glimmer Magazine.
In Conspectu: Short Film Journal Vol. 1

Short films often serve as a testing ground for filmmakers. They allow experimentation. They allow risk taking. They often explore ideas that would not fit into feature length film.

I will share thoughts on a selection of shorts I have watched. The goal is simple. Highlight interesting finds. Give quick impressions. Offer ratings. No deep breakdown. Just discovery focused viewing notes.

Most of them can be seen online and if so, I will link to them.

So for this first round, I will take a look at three interesting movies from three different countries.

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Wait, Your Car? (2025, USA)

Director: Reece Feldman
Writer: Reece Feldman
Production Company: Fair Oaks Entertainment
Genre: Psychological Horror, Fantasy
Runtime: 15min

Did a car attack a girl in this short film? The story leaves that uncertain. It builds around trust between friends. It asks whether you believe what you are told.

The film is very well made. The camera work is strong. The sound design stands out. Overall, the production quality is high.

The story brings to mind Christine, you could say. That was a nice touch.

Rating: 9/10

Check it out here:

IMDB
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt36850147

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Love and Urinals (2026, Australia)

Director: Haris Mirza, Lena Albin
Writer: Haris Mirza
Production Company: ?
Genre: Drama, Comedy, Sci-Fi
Runtime: 8min

With a title like this, it feels like a joke at first glance. It is not.

The story follows a man who discovers that the urinals in a restaurant function as a time machine. It becomes a warm short film with an emotional tone.

Most of the film takes place in very few locations. That restraint makes the execution even more impressive, especially given the short runtime of eight minutes. Worth mentioning is that one of the directors, Haris, also plays the lead role himself and he is very convincing.

Funny sci-fi story.

Rating: 8/10

Check it out here:

+ vimeo link
https://vimeo.com/1202699240

IMDB
?
Directors IMDB
https://www.imdb.com/name/nm8666889/

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Shadows of the Past (Nepal - 2023) 

Director: Sanish Maharjan
Writer: Sanish Maharjan
Production Company: BITB Productions
Genre: Drama, Psychological Horror
Runtime: 12min

This film was made during a time when the director was studying at film school and was created "as part of a genre filmmaking assignment." Set in Nepal with dialogue in Nepali. That alone is really interesting, since it is not every day I watch movies from Nepal.

The story begins with the loss of a father. We follow a daughter who experiences a presence she cannot explain.

The tone shifts from what you expect to be a thriller into a serious drama. The focus turns toward heavier subject matter, including suicide. I really was not expecting the movie to go this deep.

Well made. I will definitely look into what more this director has done.

Rating: 8/10

Check it out here:

IMDB
?

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As always the world of short films continues to surprise me. More reviews will follow in future roundups.

In Conspectu is Latin for "in view" or "before the eyes." A reminder that films can reveal more when we look closer. This first collection explores stories that are not always what they first appear to be.

Article written by: Sonny Mikszath

Movie: Obsession (2025)

Premiere: September 6, 2025 
(Toronto International Film Festival - Canada) 
Country of origin: USA
Director: Curry Barker
Writer: Curry Barker
Production Companies: 
Capstone Pictures, Tea Shop Productions, Under the Shell
Distributed: Capstone Global
Genre: Drama, Psychological Horror
Runtime: 1h 48min
Starring: Michael Johnston, Inde Navarrette, Cooper Tomlinson

My guess is that many people reading this have felt rejection at some point. Some may even recognize the darker thought that follows it, the idea of wanting someone to love you completely and only you. That is not a healthy place to stay in, but it is a very human starting point.

That is where Obsession begins.

Before getting into the film itself, it is worth noting the production context. The film was made on a very small budget with a largely unknown cast and crew. After its unexpected success there has been discussion about compensation for those involved. My view is simple. Agreements made before production should be respected. If extra rewards are given after success, that is a gesture of goodwill rather than an obligation.

In this film we follow Barren (Michael Johnston), a young man deeply in love with Nikki (Inde Navarrette). The story builds around a wish that feels like a darker mirror of the concept seen in the movie Big (1988). In that film the wish is playful. Here it becomes something far more dangerous. Barren wants Nikki to love him above everyone else in the world. This wish comes true and what follows is where the film changes shape completely. The romantic tone collapses into full on psychological horror. 
 

What makes it stronger is that the film lets you feel both sides of the situation. You understand Barren’s obsession, you also feel Nikki’s fear and loss of control. That dual perspective makes the emotional impact heavier.

Barren is played with strong emotional intensity. His performance carries a quiet instability that builds rather than explodes. There is a magnetism in how he moves and how he speaks, that reminded me of Jake Gyllenhaal. It is not about imitation, but about that same controlled intensity that slowly pulls you in.

Nikki becomes increasingly unsettling as the story progresses. It is not only what she does but the shift in presence that makes her feel unpredictable. At times she feels like a victim of the situation, at other moments she feels almost detached from normal behavior in a way that is hard to read. Inde Navarrette delivers a performance that feels controlled and unsettling throughout, especially in how her character shifts between vulnerability and something harder to define.

As the film moves toward its later stages it does not hold back. There are scenes of intense gore that are brutal and very explicit. This is not a film that softens its impact.

One of the most interesting choices is the music. Even during tense moments the score often stays calm. That contrast creates discomfort because what you hear does not match what you see. It reinforces the feeling that something is wrong beneath the surface.

What surprised me most is how real the film feels. There is no constant reminder that it is a low budget production. The pacing holds attention from start to finish. I was fully locked in throughout the entire experience. The lighting also deserves mention. Nikki is often framed with parts of her face hidden in darkness. That simple choice adds unease and strengthens her presence in many scenes.

Overall this feels like a modest horror film that delivers far beyond expectation. Strong performances, confident direction and a consistently unsettling tone carry it throughout. It fits naturally within the type of horror films associated with Blumhouse.

I initially assumed Blumhouse had a direct production role because of the branding at the start and the overall style of the film. However, when checking the credits, the production companies are Capstone Pictures, with Jason Blum listed as a producer. That clarified the situation and explained why the association felt stronger than the actual credit structure.

This film starts as something familiar. It ends as something far more disturbing. The core message stays clear throughout: be careful what you wish for. This was a fully engaging experience from start to finish.
10/10

 

 

Trailer

IMDB
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt37287335

Article written by: Sonny Mikszath