Curve, a horror short film on YouTube that was directed and produced by Tim Egan, has some of the most impactful storytelling that I have ever seen. Having no dialogue, the short film uses extraordinary visuals to set the anxiety-inducing environment and the emotion conveyed by the multi-award winning actress Laura Jane Turner.

  This short film really stuck out to me in the little storytelling and what can be inferred from the visuals they show you. Turner’s character wakes up on a steep concrete slope, seemingly at peace, before that moment shatters and she stops herself from sliding down into the dark pit below her. 

  In the rest of the short film, she is fighting to keep herself from falling, scraping her hands bloody on the concrete and doing everything she can to try and give herself even the slightest bit of more traction. All the while, she stares at a similar slope in front of her as markings left in blood reflect what is and what may inevitably happen to her as well.

  What makes it even more unsettling is that there is no music whatsoever. None. The only sounds you can hear are panicked breathing, scraping, and the frustration of the character. It makes everything feel more dire. It pulls you into the moment and makes it feel like you’re right there with her until the end. You hear every breath and every movement. 

  I really like that there is no music. It is really impressive to me when a film is made without any soundtrack, because it is typically expected for films to have some sort of soundtrack, whether it be music or even added sounds that don’t come from the physicality of a film (ie. a ‘dun dun’ sort of sound, weapon unsheathing, etc.). A part of me always wonders what it would be like if a film just worked with and or amplified ‘natural’ sounds instead of playing music, and this film does that. What’s even better is that this short film doesn’t need additional music whatsoever; I personally think that it would actually take away from the film if added. Viewers wouldn’t feel the same level of dread and wouldn’t be as connected to the character if there was, because it would be a constant reminder that it is a film and viewers aren’t right there with her.

  When the short film reaches its conclusion, rain starts to pour down and make it even harder to stay above the dark abyss below, and we see the character grit her teeth and she yanks off her necklace and wraps it around her hand to try and stay upright. We watch her chain-wrapped hand slowly slide down, then we hear a scrape and the screen goes dark. We are shown the two slopes, and she is gone. Although we never see her fall, it can be assumed that she did, despite her efforts.

  For me, that ending was devastating. Throughout the film, you watch and root for her to be able to pull herself up and find the last bits of strength she has to save herself, and then you’re left to believe that she fell regardless of her efforts. It is not too often that you meet a doomed protagonist, but it is refreshing to see every now and then. Of course I never want anything bad to happen to a character, but seeing them always get to the end of always getting what they want can get repetitive. Doomed protagonists who fail or who just don’t win are a refreshing reminder that not everything will work out in the end.

  This short was inspired by Eagan’s own personal experiences, which inspired him so much the filming of the whole short was eight hours between concept and shooting the script. The concrete was inspired from when Egan was in a car accident. He had been thrown into the center lane of traffic and he gripped the asphalt, “preparing to be struck by a second car in a matter of seconds”. According to Egan,  the concept for the film came from a conversation he had with a grief stricken friend, who expressed that the best part of her day was the few seconds after waking up, which after that she “‘remembered her pain’” and felt like “‘the earth opened up beneath her and the rest of her day was simply about holding on by sheer force of tension’”. Egan did an amazing job representing what his friend was talking about and experiencing. The fruitless efforts to hang on and just try to stay above the dark pit of grief or depression, and how much goes into maintaining that.

  This short film is able to visually show the viewer what that is like. It is so interesting to me because I can not remember ever seeing a film accomplish or even try to attempt the same topic. And to do it with no dialogue, just visuals, to show what is happening and not just telling the viewer. I absolutely love it. This film is a great representation of feeling like you’re holding onto that last thread with everything you have to make sure that you can continue forward. I feel like everyone at some point feels like that. When you have a bad day and are just trying to get through it and not break down or keep a level head to get any work done.

  I would a hundred percent recommend this short film to anyone who would be even slightly interested in it. It is such an interesting film visually and the skill to pull it all together in the way that Egan did is astounding. It is one of my favorite films, despite the dark topic and nature of it, and it will most likely continue to be high on my list for the foreseeable future.