Suanne Strider Presents: Review of Matthew Graves’ ‘Til Death

“It Was a Dark and Stormy Night…” – Review of Matthew Graves’ film, ‘Til Death

From local filmmaker Matthew Graves comes ‘Til Death—one of the many outstanding contributions selected to be shown at this years’ Oxford Film Festival. Selected into the “Narrative Short Film” category and starring Michael Ewing as “Henry,” and Jennifer Pierce Mathus as “Emily,” this short brings us a tale of heartbreak and horror—with just enough delightful, yet gruesome, weirdness to classify it as “dark humor.”

Michael Ewing as ‘Henry’

It opens with on the obvious wedding day for the two main characters Henry and Emily. Henry is in such a blissful hurry to get to the chapel on time, he accidentally runs over his bride-to-be in the crosswalk right in front of the church. Henry’s grief turns to madness as (SPOILER ALERT) he digs up her body and brings it home for a party during a thunderstorm. The dimly-lit room has been hiding from Henry what a strike of lightning reveals to him as the lights go out and the music on the record player slows to a halt…he has done something horrible.

This film achieves its desired effect very well…it is disturbing, horrific, and gory—yet there is just enough kitsch and ludicrousness in the acting and subject matter to create a dark humor very reminiscent of “Tales From the Crypt.” In an interview with Graves, he said that this was the intention for the film…to mix horror with the ludicrous to create humor, and naming “Tales From the Crypt” specifically.

There is also a haunting beauty created in the staging of each scene, using props such as romantic clothing, jewelry, and makeup, as well as stage setting with furniture and tactical use of lighting that ironically mixes with the macabre to create a hauntingly beautiful effect on film. Graves’ use of light and dark becomes a kind of character in itself, a very Hitchcockian move–such as the strike of lightning that causes a power outage glaringly revealing to him the dead nature of his fiancée whom, until that moment, in Henry’s mind, had been alive—as if he had resurrected her when he dug her body from the ground.

The eerie twenties-era music Graves uses as a backdrop to the film is also congruent with the flippant nature of this particular style of horror. It, as well, becomes a character unto itself. It reminds one of “The Shining,” which has effectively put twenties music of that style into the mind of the collective consciousness to the point that just hearing it in a film instantly causes the viewer to refer back to the scariness of “The Shining.”

Jennifer Pierce Mathus as ‘Emily’ and Michael Ewing as ‘Henry’

Jennifer Pierce Mathus’ portrayal of “Emily” is perfect–both as the still-alive bride-to-be preparing for her wedding day; and as the corpse of Emily, flailing and gruesome and very believable. Michael Ewing’s portrayal of “Henry” is also worthy of a nod. His descent into madness is as disturbing, believable, entertaining, and darkly humorous, very much like Jack Nicholson’s performances in both “One Flew Over the Cukoo’s Nest” and “The Shining.”

‘Til Death runs among a list of other quality short narratives two separate days at the Oxford Film Festival. It shows at the Malco Theater in Oxford on Friday, February 19 at 1:00 p.m., and on Sunday, February 21, at 10:30 a.m. See you there!

For the full schedule of the 2016 Oxford Film Festival, go here.

Suanne Strider is a writer, editor, photographer, promoter and paralegal from Tallahatchie County, in the Mississippi Delta. She also serves as a booking agent and philanthropist. Suanne lives in Oxford and has three beautiful children–daughter Mimi (the oldest); and Drake and Jess, who are twins (Drake being older by one minute). She may be contacted at suannestrider@gmail.com.

Follow HottyToddy.com on Instagram, Twitter and Snapchat @hottytoddynews. Like its Facebook page: If You Love Oxford and Ole Miss…