Tailypo

Director - Cameron McCasland (The Lashman)
Starring - David Chattam (Worm) and Joseph Aguon Drake (Hatfields and McCoys: Bad Blood)
Release Date - 2015
Genre - Horror
Format - Streaming (Online Screening)

Rating (out of 5):

     Horror always seems to find itself in a rut where originality is often neglected for profit and mediocrity.  People can find inspiration for horror everywhere but refuse to do so and jump on bandwagons and fads leaving behind so much potential.  Recently I discovered that director Cameron McCasland had made a short titled Tailypo.  Those of you that live in Appalachia may be familiar with the American folk tale of Tailypo about a cat-like creature that roams the woods.  I, as most of you may know, grew up in Appalachia and I am very familiar with the tale.  Hell, I even had a little story book of the tale when I was little.  I reached out to Cameron and he was kind enough to send me a link to an online screener.  Thanks Cameron!
     The short follows an older man and his trusty dog as they are out in the woods looking for dinner. The two spot something strange out in the tree and shoot at it in hopes that it will taste better than another night of beans.  They approach the beast they shot and soon learn that the simply shot the tail off.  Hungry and desperate, they take the tail back to their cabin and cook it in a good stew.  They eat their reward and head inside to go to bed when they hear a noise in the woods.  It sounds like a creature but the creature seems to be talking.  He goes outside to check and is unable to see anything.  The two return to bed only to be awaken again by the same noise.  This time the old man's dog goes into the woods after something and is killed.  The man screams at the sound of his dying dog when the beast reveals itself.  It is a cat like creature with glowing eyes looking for his tail.
      I love a good short especially when they deliver on the story and don't just shove action with no substance in the viewer's face.  Tailypo is another short that offers excitement, to an extent, as well as, story that really makes the short fun.  The acting in this one is great in two aspects.  David Chattam is brilliant as the old man with his faithful dog.  He plays a convincing settler of the time and makes you really believe that he has an unbreakable bond with his four-legged friend.  His performance makes or breaks the short and he really delivers on knowing that.  We also get some great voice acting from Joseph Aguon Drake.  He voices the Tailypo and the first time you hear him speak it sends chills down your spine.  I was actually watching this late at night with the lights off and my skin did crawl a little bit.  The story for this one follows closely to the lore behind Tailypo.  The story does not break away from the actual tale at all and stays very true to it's roots.  With that being said, it a fun story that builds in intensity before exploding in the final scene like a stick of dynamite.  The story is also surrounded in mystery and could easily have a sequel made from what was established in the short.  I could see a full length film come out of this in the same style as The Boogens.   Finally, the film does not have any on screen kills.  Instead, it thrives on building suspense and atmosphere along with finally delivering the beast.  The beast itself I believe was made by filmmaker Dustin Mills.  It looks great and is what I would expect from a Dustin Mills' film but it just feel a little out of place with the tone of the film.  Once again, it looks fucking fantastic but feels out of place.  Overall, Tailypo is a fantastic short that shows that you can find a horror story anywhere as long as you are open to it.  McCasland could have made a zombie flick but instead he dived into American folk lore and brought back an amazing short.  Check this one out!