When an author creates, sometimes his creations take on a life of their own. In the short film Don’t Let Them In, writer director David Lawrence fashions a creepy story around an urban legend with mostly effective results.
It’s late, there is a knock at the door. It’s a group of children looking for help. “Please, let us in.” They plea. Our advice, Don’t Let them In. These creepy children with eyes black as pitch are souls deamons bent on stealing the souls of the samaritans that offer them access. Lawrence short film begins with a woman in a parking garage being badgered by the group of demonic children. They relentlessly pound on the windows of the car. The catch is that if she never opens the doors she is safe. A compelling opener, yes. but more on that later.
We cut to a nice home late in the evening. A woman walked into the front door and calls out to her husband. He sits typing away in front of the computer. A writer of horror, his latest book deals with The Black Eyed Children. As his wife tells him his writing won’t lead anywhere he insists this will be the one that brings in the money. He heads upstairs to take a shower. The wife remains downstairs and suddenly, there is a knock at the door. What will happen? Does show know the rules? DON’T LET THEM IN!
Writer, director Lawrence shows some real promise in this tense little horror short about an urban legend come to life. The movie excels in that there is little explanation needed to really let the creep factor fill in the blanks. The black-eyed children are disturbingly creepy and perfectly envisioned. Their disturbing, plain look and terrifying voice is perfect spot on when they appear.
The problem this short has is that you can tellLawrence had far more story to tell. The movie begins in a parking garage, then we cut away. The movie cuts to another tense scene in a home, then that scene is cut short. The film ends with a reporter interviewing the author from the previous scene then that one ends too. Lawrence wanted to tell so much story that, in the end we are left a little in the dark. It’s really too bad as the film would have been stronger with less. The parking garage, while effective, should be cut. It’s a great hook, but confusing. This would allow for just a little more play in the home and the aftermath to really get the point across.
Yes we are being vague for a reason. The effective horror short dabbles in some great Serling-esque territory and we would hate to spoil it for you. Delivering a nice punch in a short amount of time like that is tough work and we take our hat off to them here.
If you see Don’t Let Them In at a film festival near you, make the time to check it out. This is a nice preview of what Lawrence is capable of if given enough time and money.
