A Congress of Crows – Film Review
Do you love crime thrillers and get fascinated by what makes killers tick? Ever get that urge to understand the messed-up moments that turn someone ice-cold? It’s a dark rabbit hole, wondering if guys like that can ever crawl back out. Sean Martinez’s short film, A Congress of Crows, dives right into that murky water with a horror-thriller that totally hooked me.
Fair warning though, like seriously: viewer discretion advised. This flick isn’t for the easily spooked. A Congress of Crows gets bloody, it’s disturbing, and it definitely earns its horror badge. Don’t say I didn’t warn ya.
Written by screenwriter Patrick Thompson, the setup for A Congress of Crows is pretty damn interesting. We crash a group therapy session, but forget your usual sob stories. These folks are killers, legit killers, trying a twelve-step program and spilling the beans about their past… uh… deeds. In just twenty-three minutes, director Sean Martinez jams in a whole lotta compelling story and characters that feel surprisingly real (in a terrifying way).
Watching these psychos share felt like peeling back layers of pure darkness. Their stories of death glued my couch potato butt firmly to the seat, building up the suspense to a twisted ending I’m definitely not spoiling for you. What really got me was how sucked in I felt. Like, I was right there in the circle with them, feeling the creepy energy and the weight of their confessions. Martinez has this killer knack for showing you the raw, callous side of these people, making it feel chillingly authentic, like stuff you’d read in actual criminal profiles.
The special effects were executed (pun intended) very well giving that visceral impact. The cinematography by German Valle was on point as the lens adapted to the mood and feel of each scenario. The production design by Sara Buttenwieser locked in the films unsettling atmosphere. Pulling it all together in the editing bay was Libya Al-Amin who did a great job slicing just the right amount of suspense and engagement.
The cast was bad ass! Larry Larson, Allie Rivera Quiñonez, Zach Lane, Daniel Baldock, Josh Bolla, and Shannon Hutchinson’s performances were impressive. Imagine portraying a circle of erratic, dangerous individuals sharing gut-wrenching pursuits, yet still managing to share the limelight so effectively. They all gave killer performances making the threat feel authentic real.
Producers don’t get much recognition in short films so here’s a special shout out to Amil Fuentes, Victoria Mitchell, and Dennis Carter for making A Congress of Crows a reality. You are all a little twisted but in a good way.
A Congress of Crows is an unconventional well executed crime horror film. I was impressed with Sean Martinez’s choices in telling this story. I was really enjoyed watching this short film. Catch it a a film festival near you.
