A field technician is sent out to a creepy old house to fix a home support device that is apparently turning itself on in the middle of the night in Blake Vaz’s horror short L.U.N.A.
We receive our fair share of independent horror films to review, some are excellent and deserve a large audience, whilst others have been created by those new to filmmaking and are filled with cliches, bad choices, and cheesy dialogue. Thankfully, Blake Vaz’ L.U.N.A. falls firmly in the former category.
Lillian (Fernanda Romero) works for an electronics company called L.T.O as a field technician. For her last house call of the day, she arrives at an old and rather Gothic-looking mansion owned by a couple called Jamie (Lauren Blair) and Sarah (Lauren DeShane). The mansion was apparently built by a business owner who then gifted it to Sarah’s Grandfather for all his hard work. The Grandfather then left it to Sarah.
The reason for Lillian’s late visit to Sarah’s house is due to their L.T.O product L.U.N.A. playing up. Like a Pyramid-shaped Alexa, L.U.N.A. has been turning itself on in the middle of the night and speaking in Spanish. Lillian is dismissive of the couple’s claims at first, but when she is presented with a recording of the device, she changes her mind, especially when she realizes that the voice coming from L.U.N.A. is asking for help and stating they are in the basement when translated to English.
From here, the three women make their way downstairs and into the basement, where they believe something sinister is happening and that someone actually could be trapped behind a hundred-year-old wall.
As soon as the short film starts, you are struck by the 1970s and 1980’s horror movie influence. The camera work, lighting, color grade, and grain transports you back to that Golden age; when the greatest horror movies were produced. It really is slickly produced.
The score, which is definitely more 80s in feel, really sets the mood. Both Julio Cervantes and Blake Vaz did an excellent job by using synths, that are not a million miles away from the feel of hearing the theme of Stranger Things for the first time.
Whilst it may only be (just under) ten minutes long, L.U.N.A. is a great little horror film that we believe has been picking up festival wins recently and that could very well be adapted into a feature film. We’ve been told the script has already been written and that some companies have already shown an interest. If it does get picked up, we will certainly be watching it. Well done to all involved.
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