Short Film Review: ‘Don’t Wake Daddy’ (2023)
Brien is a hard-working man who struggles with nightmares and insomnia. When things start to go awry, his daughter swears it's the "red man" and not her dad.
★★★★
Horror (15 minutes)
dir. Allison Marie Rogers
Starring: Kaza Jobalia, Ava Inman, John Bibby, Patrick M. Johnston
“Brien is a hard-working man who struggles with nightmares and insomnia. When things start to go awry, his daughter swears it's the "red man" and not her dad.”
— Official Synopsis
Don’t Wake Daddy is a charming, short indie horror.
As many horror films do, Don’t Wake Daddy evokes a tale as old as time. We’re focused on the traditional family archetype, with our storyline following an ominous Red Man whose guised as Brien (Patrick M. Johnston), a loving husband and father. With the limited budget, writer-director Allison Marie Rogers had to find a unique way to captivate viewers. Rogers uses a variety of different techniques to tell this story—one of my favorites being the special effects. The different effects used throughout this film was truly a joy to see, though sometimes being a little overzealous; that could be a result of the editing style used for a handful of transitions.
I’d venture to say that horror fans generally enjoy the additional eeriness to the narrative when a child is at the center of the terror—which is done here to great affect. Elise, Ava Inman (Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile), is our main protagonist as the story is told from her point of view. Inman certainly had a lot on her plate to progress the story forward. The different color grading throughout the 15 minutes helped accentuate the overall tone of the cinematic language. Though, rather than the over-stylized transitions, I would have loved to see more simplistic, linear cuts. Cinematographer Anderson Rush found unique ways to captivate the audience and add a lingering dread with the usage of varying angles. Ultimately, the use of the camera was perfected to show the monotonous everyday tasks of the characters. Additionally, the choice of musical composition enhanced both the overall quality of the final product and infused flavorful camp into its DNA.
You can tell the cast had a wonderful time making this short and it’s infectious to watch. Come for the intriguing premise of the plot and stay for the brilliant filmmaking. As every good scary flick does, Don’t Wake Daddy leaves you looking over your shoulder and wondering if you, too, have your own Red Man. Only time will tell.
