Bag of Tricks – Short Reviews for Short Films

I don’t know about you guys but I love a good horror short. Whether it’s a one and done affair or a proof of concept for a feature film, there are few things that can beat a good short film. Today, I was able to check out a Halloween-themed short called Bag of Tricks.  With a runtime of just over fifteen minutes, there’s not going to be a ton to talk about so, let’s get right into it.

First, A Disclaimer

In the interest of transparency, I think it’s important to note that the writer Brantley J. Brown and director Michael Coulombe both write for Tennessee Horror News from time to time. They’re some incredibly talented dudes and we’re glad to have them. However, all of that goes out the window when it’s time to review a film. I just figured that this was important to bring up. Now, we can actually talk about Bag of Tricks.

The Story

The story focuses on a young couple who find themselves in the middle of an urban legend. They are visited by Timmy, an evil Halloween spirit that kills people who are dicks to trick or treaters. I think anyway. Either way, he slips into their home and havoc ensues.

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The Characters

Even though you don’t really have time to get to know the characters or their world in any depth, they are well written enough to be likeable. They seem like a real couple just hanging out on Halloween night; their chemistry is great and the writing makes them feel like actual people. It doesn’t hurt that they are both talented actors who are nice to look at.

The villain in Bag of Tricks is Timmy. You don’t learn much about him but I feel like there is some great lore that could be built around a character like him. It reminded me a little of Sam from Trick ‘r Treat but with more of a backstory; even if we don’t get any of that story just yet. He’s a pretty simple villain but definitely creepy as all hell. Kids in ghost costumes are fucking creepy, okay? That’s just facts.

The Other Pieces of the Puzzle

Everything really comes together to make Bag of Tricks a success. The writing, direction, and performances are all on point. The cinematography, editing, and music are great too. There’s a rumor that this might be getting a feature film treatment in the future and if it turns out half as good as this it’ll be a Halloween classic in no time.

Final Thoughts

                All in all, would I recommend Bag of Tricks? Damn straight I would! It’s a fun little Halloween short. Do yourself a favor and head over to the Horror House Media YouTube channel and give this one a watch. You won’t regret it.