This is my inaugural review, but I've been eagerly anticipating this film for over a year and it did not let me down, except I wished it was longer. Despite its short duration, the film was ingeniously crafted. Ever since I caught a glimpse of the trailer last fall, I've been on tenterhooks for this movie. The characters are all meaningful, each with clear objectives, and the chilling tone reminded me of my first encounter with Return to Oz. The world they've built, the dreamy atmosphere, the rhythm, all of it has a unique allure. Seeing what they have done with the characters to bring them into the present day is a delight and surprisingly very believable considering their backgrounds.
My favorite moment *spoiler alert* was the reappearance of the wheelers, and the climactic revelations that beautifully transitioned the tone. The performances were solid, particularly the mature actress portraying Dorothy. The suspense leading up to her first appearance was incredibly potent and I'm eager to see this aspect developed in future installments.
Die-hard Oz fans may crave more, given the film's brief 27 minute runtime and its deviation from the usual Wizard of Oz cliches. However, as a horror enthusiast and an admirer of the Wizard of Oz, I found the film to be robust and a promising precursor to a larger project that I hope is in the pipeline. I'm thrilled to see how the narrative unfolds.
My only gripe is that I wished to see the contents of 'the book'. It's a fascinating addition to the Oz universe and I was captivated by the mystery of its contents, of which we only catch glimpses. Perhaps this was a deliberate choice, but my curiosity was certainly piqued.
As I've mentioned, for a short film, I found this to be exceptional and a smart way to lay the groundwork for a larger universe. It's clear that the creators have a distinct talent for the horror genre, with every element seeming intentional and skillfully designed. My only desire is that it could have been longer.
My favorite moment *spoiler alert* was the reappearance of the wheelers, and the climactic revelations that beautifully transitioned the tone. The performances were solid, particularly the mature actress portraying Dorothy. The suspense leading up to her first appearance was incredibly potent and I'm eager to see this aspect developed in future installments.
Die-hard Oz fans may crave more, given the film's brief 27 minute runtime and its deviation from the usual Wizard of Oz cliches. However, as a horror enthusiast and an admirer of the Wizard of Oz, I found the film to be robust and a promising precursor to a larger project that I hope is in the pipeline. I'm thrilled to see how the narrative unfolds.
My only gripe is that I wished to see the contents of 'the book'. It's a fascinating addition to the Oz universe and I was captivated by the mystery of its contents, of which we only catch glimpses. Perhaps this was a deliberate choice, but my curiosity was certainly piqued.
As I've mentioned, for a short film, I found this to be exceptional and a smart way to lay the groundwork for a larger universe. It's clear that the creators have a distinct talent for the horror genre, with every element seeming intentional and skillfully designed. My only desire is that it could have been longer.
