Short Film: Boo

Directed by Rakefet Abergel, released in 2019 and coming in at the 15-minute mark, I actually caught this on a broadcast of short films arranged by the London Horror Society, so thank you to them for the event.

In the LHS broadcast they deliberately said little about the short, so as to lead you to the twist – the fact that I am featuring the short does give said twist away (clearly it is about a vampire) but it is actually a joy getting to it.

bloodied hand

So, the film starts with Jared (True Blood & Midnight, Texas) in his car. He is messaging Devi (Rakefet Abergel) – whom he affectionately calls Boo – to tell her that he has arrived to pick her up when her bloodied hand bangs the window to be let in. Ignoring his concern, she tells him to drive.

the seven-year chip

The film then goes back and sees Devi leaving her 12-steps programme and smoking with fellow attendees Ava (Parisa Fitz-Henley, also Midnight, Texas) and Grace (Laura Wiggins). Devi has achieved a seven-year chip and the conversation takes on a different meaning if you know the twist. They eventually have to leave, Devi assuring her that she will be fine as she waits for Jared.

Rakefet Abergel as Devi

She walks deeper into the car park, standing by the one car, but it is occupied by Chris (Michael Villar). He has been drinking, his hand cut and wrapped in a dirty rag. He gets out of the car and offers Devi a drink from his hip flask, suggests she clearly likes to party and when she tells him to back away he becomes abusive, aggressive and tries to assault her – pushing her into the car and we loop then to the opening as Jared arrives…

Ava and Grace

Of course, the twist is spoilt as I say, but the question is has Devi fallen from the wagon and, if so, how far will she fall? This is a neat little short and the film plays a nice addiction-double-entendre, where things seen and mean something else when you know the twist and the moment of the offered hip flask neatly containing two meanings.

The imdb page is here.

BOO - A Short Horror Film by Rakefet Abergel from Rakefet Abergel on Vimeo.