"Danse Macabre"

Directed by: Pedro Pires

Runtime: 6 min.

Screened Thurs, Aug. 20, 7pm [rescheduled for Aug. 21 due to technical difficulties] in front of feature film, The Forbidden Door

Due to technical difficulties during Day 7 at Toronto After Dark Film Festival, "Danse Macabre" was moved to the following day, during the closing gala. I wasn't expecting to see this short, but was glad I had the chance to. Not only was it visually stunning, but the simple concept introduced innovative ideas in the horror genre.

My description of this short could never do the film justice, so instead, please read the film's poetic synopsis:

"For a period of time, while we believe it to be perfectly still,
lifeless flesh responds, stirs and contorts in a final macabre ballet.
Are these spasms merely erratic motions
or do they echo the chaotic twist and turns of a past life?"

I am not one to generally enjoy films as artistic as these. The ideas are always profound, but become trivial and pretentious. So while "Danse Macabre" didn't resonate with me during the screening, the more I thought about this important short and what it was bringing to an oftentimes misjudged genre, I began to respect the piece more and more.  Like fine wine, this short gets better with age.