Directed by: Mark Grabianowski Written by: Mark Grabianowski Genre: Thriller / Short |
Bound
A woman (Sheila Dionne) finishes a round of cards with herself and goes about her morning routine. Tidy up, feed the cat, check the basement for messes and clean any she finds. At first, you may assume that the urine she finds in the cellar is from the cat. You would be wrong. Bound and blindfolded in the basement is a man (Garrett Botts) who pleads to be released. The woman ignores him and again goes about her day.
Via a phone call and a visit, we learn the woman lives alone because her husband has died, and she has also been estranged from the rest of her family. During an unwanted visit from her daughter, we learn the woman's life has been in decline. The house is falling apart, and the family, although estranged, is worried about her. They have met with a lawyer and are in the process of selling the house. A building inspector will be visiting the next day. The man in the basement is now a problem that must be quickly dealt with, and by this point, we've learned he is not some innocent soul that came to the door selling bibles. He's a criminal, a con artist. It's strongly hinted that he may be the reason this woman's husband is dead. Now, she's left with a decision. Should she let the man go because nothing she can do will bring back her husband. Let him go and hope he keeps his word. Or, let vengeance overtake her and kill him. Decisions decisions. Bound is an excellent short film that has all the right things going for it. The performances are real and natural, the look and feel are spot on, and the scoring perfectly fits the film. There's a grit and decay to this short title that perfectly mirrors the deteriorating life of this struggling woman. Hate, family, and justice are all represented along with even a spattering of fear not from the captive but from this woman and her family. There's a lot covered in such a short title, and it's all done very, very well. Mark Grabianowski's short film is probably one of the best micro-budget titles I've seen in quite a while. It's quick, and it's deep for those who really want to consider the content. Bound is one of those movies you could debate the finer points of justice upon if you decided to really take things apart. For sure, four stars. Well done. |
