I will be covering three different short films released over the years by German-based team AE Filmkunst, formerly known as White Lodge Movies. Last weekend I reviewed their short Blutkreis, an amateur horror film that followed animalistic rituals and weird occult-like happenings. I was quite impressed by the unsettling yet intriguing atmosphere that the filmmakers had managed to create with little to no resources, and I was left wanting more. And more I got, as I was sent three more short films produced in the earlier days of the studio.
REVIEWS:
Woodstock Witchcraft (2013) is a 15-minute short film made in succession to the 2013 feature film The Last Tape, when AE Filmkunst went under the name White Lodge Movies. In getting the gist of the story, I can recollect this film showing the practices of witches within their lair. Whereas that plot description sounds very vague, there's definitely more to it, considering the language barrier. Unfortunately, the screener copy I was given access to had no subtitles, and there was a bit of narration over the top. However, aside from the narration being lost on me, the film itself is very well shot and tightly edited, with beautiful lighting and interesting sound design. There are also quite a few visual aspects that keep me watching, as we get to see the contents of the witch's lair. Everything is well-designed and laid out; overall a very polished short!
Directed by Tim Rabenstein, Isabelle Fitzgerald and Johannes Kluger.
Directed by Tim Rabenstein, Isabelle Fitzgerald and Johannes Kluger.
Watch the Lights (2014) is another intriguing endeavor from the White Lodge team, this time shifting a focus on extraterrestrial life! A man lies within his workspace; various videotapes about UFOs and aliens line the shelves, and he inspects his setup, trying to detect any otherworldly life. As soon as he does, he makes his way toward the forest..
This is a genuinely creepy mindfuck of a short film centered on aliens set to a score of creepy ambient droning music, complimented by excellent lighting and well-organized set pieces. The story is easy to follow, as the short film is more visually driven. On the note of visuals, the puppeteer work on the aliens is done well, with much green slime and goop on display as well.
Definitely a great short! It is by far my favorite out of the bunch.
Directed by Tim Rabenstein, Isabelle Fitzgerald and Johannes Kluger.
This is a genuinely creepy mindfuck of a short film centered on aliens set to a score of creepy ambient droning music, complimented by excellent lighting and well-organized set pieces. The story is easy to follow, as the short film is more visually driven. On the note of visuals, the puppeteer work on the aliens is done well, with much green slime and goop on display as well.
Definitely a great short! It is by far my favorite out of the bunch.
Directed by Tim Rabenstein, Isabelle Fitzgerald and Johannes Kluger.
We'll round off this triple-review with Different Night, Same Torture (2018). This one plays out similarly to Blutkreis, as it lies its on focus on spiritualistic and sacrilegious imagery. The short, split into three different pieces, follows a God-questioning man as he wanders across a plain, wherein lies a cemetery and a church, with many a statue of angels and other religious figures. The man stops to pray and to cut plants, only to cut his hand open and spill blood onto a crucifix, which he then burns and proceeds to don a gas mask. As the shorts progress, the man seems to grow more disdain for this supposed God and desecrates artifacts and texts with his own blood and urine.
This one is interesting as well in its manner of storytelling, as we are shown everything through visuals and through actions. The short, I feel, sets out not to be overly obscene, but to portray one's struggle to believe in or find a God.
As always, the film is well shot and edited, with great lighting and music by Musica Non Grata and Sander Cage from Sado Messiah Productions.
Directed by Tim Rabenstein and Herzog F.
CONCLUSION:
The work I have seen from AE Filmkunst (or White Lodge Movies) has been very impressive and much different from how I expected them to be! Each short is a carefully planned and executed work of art, with attention to detail and with each having its own way of telling a story. I would highly encourage any fans of horror to check out AE Filmkunst's works, as they are obviously a very talented team of artists!
RELEASES:
-All three films have been released on DVD with English subtitles!
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