Review : Disposophobia
This week, we’ve been given a chance to watch and review a short film for the @Barkercast, featuring Anne Bobby (previously on episodes #9, #56) . This series, “In Fear Of” now on its second season, explores phobias. Anne Bobby wrote, produced, and even catered this short film — Season 2, Episode 10. “Disposophobia: Fear of Being Disposed Of” was directed by Jon Ecklund. It can be rented for .99 or purchased for download for $1.99 through Vimeo. Click on EPISODE TEN by selecting the RENTAL or DOWNLOAD option. You can support Anne Bobby and the producers of “In Fear Of”, and watch a fantastic short. Find out more about this series at http://www.infearoftheseries.com/
Jose Leitão’s Review:
Disposophobia. Like any other phobia, it can be crippling and take over one’s life. Anne Bobby (Nightbreed, Cop Rock, Broadway shows and the Bioshock games) plays Pamela, a woman who has a very strained relationship with her mother, played by Barbara Rosenblatt (Orange is the New Black). She plays Pamela with all the intensity that she puts into every role. She makes a living cleaning houses but chooses to live at a park out in the open air. Then a rendez-vous with her mother starts to unravel what haunts her psyche a little more. What follows is a trip into someone’s inner world that may lead to a ending where loss of control wheels Pamela straight into her personal hell.
Disposophobia, directed by Jon Ecklund is episode 10 of season 2 of the web series “In Fear Of” and was written brilliantly by Anne Bobby. The cast is short but talented. The direction and editing is very well done, and manages to escape the trap that short films usually fall into, which is being too short for the story to be properly communicated to the audience. This is not the case, as it succeeds in both story and direction. Give it a try, I enjoyed it immensely.
Interestingly enough, “In Fear Of” features a sister episode to this one, where Anne Bobby plays a somewhat mirror image of Pamela, in episode 7 — “Agoraphobia”, where she plays Emma, who is afraid to leave her house: “An emotionally shell shocked woman who hasn’t left her house since losing her family in an accident meets with an insurance agent who questions her on if she qualifies for his benefits program.”
Actress Anne Bobby will also be a guest on “Chattering with Nicholas Vince” this Sunday, where Nicko will conduct yet another “Luggage in the Crypt” interview, and ask Anne about what books, films and other things she considers necessary for a happy afterlife. Here’s a link to that upcoming Hangout on Air event: https://plus.google.com/events/c16djn5955p537bt0okovhedoj4
Rob Ridenour’s Review:
Disposophobia is a short film written by Nightbreed alumni Anne Bobby which shows the unsettling effects of how “not letting go” of the things that surrounds us can drive the people we love crazy.
The story is simple enough, a homeless women named Pamela (Anne Bobby) meets her mother for a conversation in town. They talk about Pamela’s life and how she needs to come home. Her mother feels it would be good for her. Little do we know that there’s so much more going on underneath the surface of the conversation than above it. That’s all I can say about the story because I feel if I say anymore I’ll spoil it.
Anne Bobby gives a great performance as the disturbed Pamela. The little ticks she gave the character only added to the tension of the story. And actress Barbara Rosenblat really got under my skin by playing the mother June quietly creepy. Director Jon Ecklund sprinkles the film with little visual cues that give the story a very out of body experience. Is this conversation really taking place? Those are the types of questions that came to me while watching this bizarre little short film. When the end credits started to roll I felt I’d gotten what the filmmakers were aiming for but I wonder if the filmmakers know just how deep and layered their film is? This deserves multiple viewings. Great job!
Grade: A
Ryan Danhauser’s Review:
A sad glimpse into the mind of a mentally ill woman, Pamela (Anne Bobby). I was prepared for a horror story, but wasn’t quite ready for the hard truth of this short film. Sometimes the deepest horror is reality, and exists in our own minds. Seeing the mother June’s desperate attempt to connect with her daughter felt very real and haunting. It’s also a little reminiscent of Phillip K. Dick Stories and even the Twilight Zone, where we spend our time with the characters trying to separate reality from fantasy.
Unflinchingly shot and powerful performances. Highly recommended.
