Tags:
Film: He
Year: 2025
Director: Hira Vin
Writer: Hira Vin
Starring: Nic Altobelli, Alex Pychtin and Matthew Kevin Anderson
Review:
This was a short film that I got the chance to see when the star, Nic Altobelli, reached out with a screener. It debuted at the Brooklyn Film Festival so I got the chance to see it early. Originally, I thought this was a feature length until I settled in to watch it. The reason there is that I try to come into watching things blind, just figuring out if it is in the genre.
Synopsis: a woman desperate for affection and love has signed up for an unconventional dating service that utilizes a combination of dark magic and science to summon an entity to please any person it encounters.
We start this with Nancy Winters (Altobelli) in what looks like lingerie. She’s talking on the phone to what sounds like her fiancé. If it isn’t, they sound like they are seriously dating. The voice belongs to Alex Pychtin. Their chemistry is good and you can feel the passion. That’s when she’s cut off. An automated recording then kicks in.
It then shifts to where this service is based. We see others waiting, including one who is leaving from her session. She is fixing her clothes. We then see the precautions that are taken here, which are serious. There is a control room watching to ensure that nothing bad happens. Part of it is that clients cannot see the owner of the voice. Nancy is determined, even if it jeopardizes everyone involved.
That’s where I’ll leave my introduction to the characters and expansion of the synopsis. Since this is a short, I tend to judge these on whether they tell a complete story or could be fleshed into more. I do think that this does well in the length that we have. It has an intro that hooked me, things get weird and then tense. The ending also fits. What I will say, I’d be curious to see more.
Where I’ll then go is say that I’m intrigued by this company. I found my wife on a dating app. At the time of writing this review, we’ve been together for six years, married for four of them. The chemistry between Altobelli and Pychtin is there. It starts to get heavy, then it cuts off. I can’t fault her for being as driven to see the entity that she is paired with, even if it results in disaster. That connection for her is so strong, it makes sense.
Circling back then to the company, I love the little things that we get there. It feels a bit like Cabin in the Woods with the people watching in from the control room. There are also little things that they do to prepare Nancy for her encounter, as well as what needs to be done to make the entity appear. The care and thought that went into this is great. It hooks me to see where things go.
I’ll then say that Altobelli and Pychtin are great for what was needed here. Their chemistry makes this work. The rest of the cast are solid in support to make this work. I also think that this is well made. The cinematography and framing were solid. There is this cool thing where we see the room where Nancy meets the entity. The truth of it is jarring in the best way. I think that the effects we get are good. The sound design also helps build the atmosphere needed.
In conclusion, this is a compelling short film that successfully delivers a complete and engaging narrative within its concise runtime. Director and writer Vin, along with a strong cast led by Altobelli and Pychtin, craft a unique story blending dark magic and science in a dating service setting. The film's intriguing concept, strong performances, and effective technical execution make it a memorable experience that leaves the viewer curious for more, ultimately earning a solid recommendation.
My Rating: 8 out of 10