Silent Night (David Felber, 2011)

Silent Night is a significant short horror film

The film “Silent Night" was produced and directed by David Felber from “The Production Zone”, it’s a 2,53 minutes film with an unforgettable plot structure, excellent camera work, poetic photography and atmospheric soundtrack.

The film is based only on the amazing optical storytelling skills of David Felber and its dialogue free. According to Production Zone’s web site the film “Silent Night" has been shown at a number of Film Festivals worldwide (the Seoul International Extreme – Short Image & Film Festival, the Ancient City Con Festival in Florida and “Round Con” in South Carolina).

The Plot Structure of the film “Silent Night”

In the beginning, the film has a strong Christmas mood and a festive atmosphere. Silent night opens with a medium shot to a fireplace and then camera very cleverly moves back and reveals a great set decorated with candles, a Christmas tree and a happy couple. Then film changes shooting location and camera changes angle, on the set Christmas presents, greetings card and a girl aged 10 to 12 years turns off the light and sleeps. Fade out  

At 33rd second of the film camera fades in, exterior and point of view shot.  A human being or a creatures is walking outside of the house. The mood of the film changes there is no festive atmosphere audience is expecting the revelation of a crime action. We believe that a mysterious and weird person is walking outside of the house and there are possibilities the young girl to be in danger.  

At 40^th second, the optical storytelling continues at girl’s room. Medium shot at the sleeping girl, she wakes up because of a weird sound. At 45^th second, shooting location stairs, extreme close shot to the boots of a man who goes upstairs. The mood of film has changed complete, the audience is expecting from second to second an action of violence and terror.

At 51th second, the door of girl’s room opens and extreme close shot to the boots of the intruder as he walks in.  Then at 55^th second of the film camera angle and shot type change again, point of view shot as the intruder is walking at girl’s bed.

Then follow the most critical shots of the film. We have a double twist in just a few second.

I will not write about the next shots!!! It’s an extreme short film, just 2 minutes and it’s an unforgettable work. It’s a great film and you deserve to watch it.

Cast of short horror film “Silent Night”
 

As I have already mentioned “Silent Night” is a short film and the plot structure of the film is based on four characters.

At the opening scene, a man (Kevin Brown) kisses a woman (Gemma Head) and then a visitor (Alan Brent) visits a sleeping girl (Holly Messenger).

Also, I need to highlight the excellent work of Steven White as Director of Photography, the unforgettable lighting of Steven Jolly as Lighting Director and the successful editing of Gareth Harrison as Editor. Additionally, make up work of Paulina Szczepanska is very good and believable to audience.

The score of the film is one of the best in short films and with the amazing optical storytelling are responsible for the creation of the unique atmosphere and the change of film’s mood during the film. As well the production work of Silent Night is amazing, obviously the production team David Felber, Barbara Felber, Ryan Bloom and Lauren Felber had done an excellent work.

Silent Night publicity and media reception
 

Articles about Silent Night short horror film appeared in the Yorkshire Post, Yorkshire Evening Post, The Yorkshire Times, Yorkshire Business Network, The Business Desk, Leeds, Live it, Love it and North side Magazine and it was reviewed on blogs and websites as http://fistfullofboomstick89.blogspot.co.uk and Cinema Slasher.

Elias Stoikos

Resources

The Production Zone

Follow Silent Night Film

Great Short Horror Films            

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