The high point of Franklin D. Roosevelt’s 1933 inaugural address is a 10-word sentence: “The only thing we have to fear is fear itself.” The new president was talking about the economy. But his famous observation could serves as the theme of most great horror pictures. Wherever the setting, the protagonist is challenged to confront his or her worst nightmare. This happens literally in “Unwelcome,” a four-minute horror short that Simon Reed and Colin Kieran shot and edited on an iPhone XR. The two filmmakers also appear in front of the camera. The simple story is enhanced by a variety of cinematic elements including high angle, frames-within-frames, practical lighting, and mirror shots. The outcome doesn’t matter. It’s all about having the courage to face fear.
The editors of MobileMovieMaking have chosen “Unwelcome” as the Mobile Movie of the Week.