Projection

Director - Ari Groobman (Snapped, I Solve Problems)

Starring - Preslea Elliott (Growers, Nine), Diego Garijo (35, The Long Way Home), and Mikey Gray (Under the Bed, Totally Becky)

Release Date - 2025

Genre - Horror

Format - Streaming (Online Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     I go through spells where I never get to review a short but then I'll find myself with several to check out.  Sometime back, a month or so now, I was asked to review the horror short Projection from director Ari Groobman.  I tried to check it out in a reasonable amount of time but the end of the school year and life got away from me.  I was able to recently check it out and I hate that it took so long to see it because I actually enjoyed it.  I want to thank Ari for sending this one over for review!

     The film follows a young woman and her sister who find themselves renting a new apartment after leaving their parents behind.  However, a fresh start for the pair takes a deadly turn when someone takes a sinister liking to them resulting in a hostile confrontation their first night. 

     I went into this one very blind and found myself very surprised by what I saw.  It was visceral and sort of straight to the point.  I love when a short doesn't waste my time and this one did not.  The acting in this one is very well done.  It's a rather small cast with the supporting cast doing a solid job while the film's protagonist, Mikey Gray, delivers a pretty intense performance during the short's last leg.  I really enjoyed her performance and I hope she returns to the genre again.  The story for this one fits the title perfectly and doesn't over stay it's welcome.  We follow a woman leaving an abusive home life where she finds herself at what could be a potential home invasion.  However, once her life is threatened she projects her abuse onto her potential abuser.  It's a clever short that has great pacing and a fitting title.  With that being said, the title itself is not that appealing which could prevent it from getting the views it deserves.  Finally, the film does have a very bloody moment during the film's final minutes before ending.  It's not gory but the effects work for the film.  I enjoyed it and appreciate how it was handled.  Overall, Projection is a fun little short that doesn't waste your time.  It's got some blood and solid acting but it doesn't really deliver enough to make it memorable.  It's fun but not something you will want to revisit again anytime soon.  Check it out.