The Pod is a short film that deals with more of a psychological tone to it’s step than it does on the horror side. In a way this film kind of reminds me a bit of David Cronenbergs eXistenZ, except in this film it’s a drug that takes our character into another kind of reality than a biological video game. It’s probably unfair of me to compare the two films but that’s what came to my mind while watching The Pod. A movie I had to watch three times to really get the feel of the film. And with each time I watched it the movie got better and better and I was able to appreciate how good of a movie it was.
The Pod has a pretty simple premise. It involves a couple that takes a drug together. The drug is considered a couples only drug and it comes from a pod. It’s said that if you don’t do the drug with a person you know, you can have a bad trip and be sent into a deep hole of depression. The overall experience is meant to bring the couple closer together like two peas in a pod. However the unsuspecting couple in this film seems to be having problems, and their experiences using the pod can bring on more problems than they care to think about.
The script is very well written and one can’t help but wonder how much effort went into the thought process of cramming in so much of a story into such a small time frame. With most scripts it would never work out, however it does here, and it helps make the movie that much better.
The plot at times may confuse some people because it has a very artistic approach in it’s storyline, but at the same time it’s a coming of age film which involves a young women named Carol who is trying to gain control of her own life from her ever pestering mother who tries to convince her to leave her boyfriend and the life she has now and try to go and live a better life with someone else. But the film is about more than that, as it’s more of a coming of age movie, and the crazy things people do for love ala Van Gough.
The acting is exceptional in this film, in a day and age where it’s easy to make and independent film and cast your friends in it; the producers of this film went out and found the perfect talent to cast in this film. Everyone from the leads to the supporting cast was great in this film. And it showed that as actors they believed in the script.
Another thing worth mentioning was the great special effects and the overall production value of the film.
Overall The Pod is a very good short film that has a pieces in the right place. With most short films these days it’s hard to pick the ones that stand out from the others; however with when you see The Pod you’ll see that it is one of those true gems that stands out. I think my only problem with the film is that I believe most people won’t get the full effect from the films ending. It’s an artistic expression that deserves from the male leads character, and what his profession is in the film. If a normal Joe was to sit down and watch this film I not sure if he or she would get the overall picture on what this film is about. But to the true hardcore filmgoer this film will be a positive piece of work in your eyes.
– Horror Bob
- Interview with J.R. Bookwalter - January 22, 2015
- Interview with Andrew J. Rausch - January 22, 2015
- Interview with Rick Popko and Dan West - January 22, 2015
- Interview with Director Stevan Mena (Malevolence) - January 22, 2015
- Interview with Screenwriter Jeffery Reddick (Day of the Dead 2007) - January 22, 2015
- Teleconference interview with Mick Garris (Masters of Horror) - January 22, 2015
- A Day at the Morgue with Corri English (Unrest) - January 22, 2015
- Interview with Writer/Director Nacho Cerda (The Abandoned, Aftermath) - January 22, 2015
- Interview with Actress Thora Birch (Dark Corners, The Hole, American Beauty) - January 22, 2015
- Interview with Actor Jason Behr, Plus Skinwalkers Press Coverage - January 22, 2015
