SSFF & Asia ’17: Black Ring (short)

Initially, they seem to be some kind of secret society, but the elites who gather at a dilapidated villa are actually far more sinister. They must be nefarious, because they all travel in black Range Rovers. We can have confidence in our assessment of their malicious intentions, because nothing will get lost in translation during the course of Hasan Can Dagli’s dialogue-free (but not silent) short film Black Ring, which screens during the Short Shorts Film Festival & Asia 2017, an Oscar-qualifying festival.

Arguably, the lack of verbal communication makes the set-up even more unsettling. Clearly, these people have gathered in the middle of nowhere for evil purposes. We might guess where Dagli is taking his narrative—sort of an Eyes Wide Shut twist on one of the most notorious urban legends. However, there is also a pronounced element of class consciousness.

Dagli cranks up the tension to eleven and shows a mastery of horror mise en scene. This film will really get under viewers’ skin—maybe even undercutting their general faith in humanity. In terms of craftsmanship, Dagli (also serving as his own editor) and cinematographer Olcay Oguz display some hugely impressive chops.

Still, we can’t help wonder how this film has been received in Turkey. It is hard to believe a horror filmmaker would have much affinity for Erdogan’s intolerant Islamist ideology and increasingly authoritarian regime. Much like Putin, Erdogan’s prime partisans would be older, uneducated, fundamentalist rural nationalists. He probably finds little support among highly educated, affluent, Westernized, artsy hipsters. Yet, that is exactly the demographic Black Ring casts as sadistic predators.

Regardless of any domestic implications, Black Ring is a lethally effective horror short. Frankly, it would be nice to see it expanded into a feature, in which the tables are eventually turned. As it now stands, Black Ring is one of the most disturbing films out there, even though its gore is far from extreme, at least by genre standards. Recommended for hardcore fans, Black Ring screens again today (6/10) and Thursday (6/15) as part of the International program-4 at this year’s SSFF & Asia.

SSFF & Asia ’17: Hitchhiker (short)

If this mystery man is a spy, he is extraordinarily unsubtle about it. Of course, subtlety is not exactly a national trait associated with North Korea. Regardless, he will not get very far in Jero Yun’s short film, Hitchhiker, which screens during the Short Shorts Film Festival & Asia 2017.

All he says to the driver is: “why don’t we get a drink?” Yet, the oafish tool panics, making a beeline for the police station instead. Still, we would probably be put off our game somewhat if a man with a North Korean accent just invited himself into our cars—assuming we could recognize a North Korean accent. Frankly, the provincial coppers are a little rusty when it comes to counter-espionage training, but they have a manual someplace. The lead detective also has a bottle of soju handy.

Hitchhiker is the sort of film that would like to see us all just get along, but it is also mature enough to recognize the nature of the borders separating the North from the South, so it spares us the lectures. Instead, it offers us and its characters a brief respite and a fleeting human connection, but those things are not nothing.

Yun and cinematographer Kim Byeong-il give the film a dark but warm Hopper’s Nighthawks kind of look that perfectly suits the nocturnal ships-passing story. Kang Seok-chul is terrific as the world-weary copper, while Lee Tae-gyu is convincingly awkward as the man with the suspicious accent.

Although the man never explicitly describes the situation in the North, the reason for his presence in the South clearly holds dire implications. Still, a bit more context would have further heightened the stakes and the poignancy. However, Yun’s primary concern was the purity of the moment, which definitely comes through. Recommended for viewers who can appreciate its elegantly restrained human drama, Hitchhiker screens again tomorrow (6/10) and Thursday (6/15) as part of the Asia & Japan program-10 at this year’s SSFF & Asia.