Short-Film Review
Nightmare (2021) – Written & Directed by Carla Saunders
Mystery & Thriller/Horror
Rated PG
Movie Runtime: 25:57
Rating 4.8/5
Those who know me well know that I am a huge fan of thrillers and the horror genre of films. I had the great pleasure of attending a private screening of the movie Nightmare, a Carla Saunders film.
Before I jump into the film, who is Carla Saunders?
Carla Saunders, a horror fan, is a self-taught filmmaker, director, and producer. She was raised in St. Louis, MO, and later moved to Atlanta, GA, where she worked as an extra on a Tyler Perry production. After being inspired by the brilliance on set, Carla began the journey to pursue her dreams in film. She quickly transitioned into production, development and directing reality-based horror thrillers.
After launching an Atlanta-based film company, Promises Entertainment, Carla developed screenplays. She then mastered the art of producing feature-length Horror/Thriller movies for American and International audiences — gaining the attention and recognition of FOX5 News Atlanta and over eight film festivals to date.
From planning and stage composition to implementation, Promises Entertainment has broken down barriers. The company has exceeded expectations. Carla’s tenacity has already gained her a reputation, as being known for her strict demands on production along with a no-nonsense approach, which translates to a commitment to excellence.
The Review
Without giving away too much of the plot, let me give you a short synopsis: The movie is set in an old school building with college students played by talented actors Shuntel (Melody) Renay, Rebekah(Hazel) Downs, Cherrika (Bella) Brown, Hanna (Steph) Kemp the psychopath, Matthew (Cam) Forde, Danny(June Bug) Bristow, the professor played by Walter (Mr. Duncan) Duckworth, the pervert and the building keeper played by Pete (old man) Ganas.
It has a well-written script with an engaging storyline, and shows no sign of fatigue since there is the right amount of suspense and intensity. However, it lacked the sound to intensify the suspenseful moments. Perhaps I’m biased because I’m a fan of Carla’s previous work.
Although the actors and the quality of the film is excellent, I do think Steph could have looked a little scarier. In addition to being entertaining, it also had a more profound message about the dangers of victimizing the victims. I thought the storyline was timely considering the current state of the #MeToo movement. As a result of the stabbings, I expected to see a lot of blood, and in actuality it has the bare minimum. I must say at the end of the movie that there would have been a zero chance she would have gotten in my car. Even though the sound is inadequate to maximize and enhance the scenes, I think the movie deserves to be followed up by a sequel. The sound was the only thing holding it back from receiving a perfect score of 5.
Check out Carla’s Official Directorial/Producer Reel at: https://youtu.be/wEiwv7pPgmk
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