Short films tend to be hit or miss. Producing a quality film with a full beginning middle and end that is entertaining can be difficult to achieve with success and is indeed an art form unto itself. The Alexandrou brothers have indeed produced a quality film. A film that I would go so far to say is fur…..I mean……hair raising. Peter Cottontail, the Easter Bunny, and the Cadbury bunny better watch themselves for no furry friend is safe in Rabbits.

The official synopsis is that in a post-apocalyptic London, two brothers believe they are the last survivors on earth until the first knock on their door in 20 years throws everything they thought they knew into question. But that synopsis alone does not do the film justice. There are several layers to this film and to the astute viewer, the layers offer a lot of cinematic intrigue and allow the imagination to run wild in the best of ways.

The audio in Rabbits was outstanding. Adam Woodhams did a phenomenal job with the sound design. In the opening sequence, we are auditorially assaulted by the most “nail-chalkboard worthy” rabbit cry I have ever heard. Which is only relieved by a neck-snapping sound so real and uncomfortable I actually winced at the sound. That awful sequence of sounds is replayed multiple times throughout the film and only adds to the uncomfortable atmosphere we as viewers watch unfold in these very tense 12 minutes. Tobias Kennedy Matthews and Martin Preston did an excellent job with the music skillfully adding music and sounds that showcased the only thing better than the music in the film…the acting.

I was incredibly impressed by the acting performances in this film. Often in short films, we do not get to see a lot of character development. That is not the case in this film. Tense, organic, believable, and FANTASTIC are all words I would use to describe the acting done in Rabbits. Brothers Arthur (Will Rastall) and Richmond (James Cutler) have wonderful on-screen chemistry. Rastall’s performance evoked feelings of tension and fear, while Cutler produced feelings of pity and compassion. These juxtaposing characters made for dynamic scenes and as their characters developed throughout the film, those initial feelings developed along with them. They are greeted by a stranger (Sean Buchanan) who also delivers a very natural and entertaining performance. As the story unfolded, I got lost in the acting and forgot to watch the show as a “reviewer” and just watched as an “audience member”.

Overall Rabbits was an outstanding change of pace. A completely enjoyable trip from start to finish. The only negative things about this film are small and not worth mentioning. If you enjoy short films and are looking for 12 minutes of entertainment, then look no further. The horror in this film comes not from gore, ghosts, or goblins lurking in the dark. And the horror doesn’t come from what is happening but rather what isn’t happening. The world has stopped, leaving two brothers to fend for themselves. Living in fear. Like Rabbits.

You can rent the film now HERE.

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