Erim Sisman's oppressively dark horror short Rosto makes you feel as if you are drowning in mud, thoghroughly surrounded by despair and dirty to the bone. A familiar yet disturbing topic taken to the extreme in a social allegory fit for today's dog-eat-dog world.
Homo hominis lupus, man being a wolf to his fellow man, seems to be the pervading theme of Rosto - Roast, in English. The story takes place entirely in and around a gloomy, run-down cabin, with the twisted conflict & power games between a man seeking his missing son and his psychopathic host at the center of the plot. Clearly following in the footsteps of the stories of Steven King, inspired by folklore and reminiscent of masterpieces such as The Seventh Seal, from the poetic dialogue to the claustrophobic setting.
The above statement is most apt when it comes to the film's looks. Rosto boasts long takes intercut with nightmarish scenes through the clever use of editing, exceptional lighting and color that gives the illusion of black & white, as well as a killer soundtrack punctuating the somber visuals. Dreamy and disorienting, the whole short manages to creep into your mind and make you feel unsafe and desperate, even if its ideas aren't the most original.
Through the horrifying acts, dilemmas and twists the protagonist faces, we are introduced to a subtle commentary on societal norms, systemic violence & coercion, the exploitation of those in need by those in power, fatherhood, and how far we're willing to go to protect those we love and ourseleves.
Homo hominis lupus, man being a wolf to his fellow man, seems to be the pervading theme of Rosto - Roast, in English. The story takes place entirely in and around a gloomy, run-down cabin, with the twisted conflict & power games between a man seeking his missing son and his psychopathic host at the center of the plot. Clearly following in the footsteps of the stories of Steven King, inspired by folklore and reminiscent of masterpieces such as The Seventh Seal, from the poetic dialogue to the claustrophobic setting.
The above statement is most apt when it comes to the film's looks. Rosto boasts long takes intercut with nightmarish scenes through the clever use of editing, exceptional lighting and color that gives the illusion of black & white, as well as a killer soundtrack punctuating the somber visuals. Dreamy and disorienting, the whole short manages to creep into your mind and make you feel unsafe and desperate, even if its ideas aren't the most original.
Through the horrifying acts, dilemmas and twists the protagonist faces, we are introduced to a subtle commentary on societal norms, systemic violence & coercion, the exploitation of those in need by those in power, fatherhood, and how far we're willing to go to protect those we love and ourseleves.