A broken-hearted teenager learns an important lesson about fidelity and family from an immersive Halloween experience that may or may not be organized by an actual witch.
As a movie critic and independent filmmaker for over 35 years, making a short film is no easy feat. I have made dozens of shorts to date and three features, but when a filmmaker can tell a story in ten minutes and wrap everything up efficiently, that is impressive. And that is what director Liz Manashil achieves with “Witchy,” her new short film, which had its Los Angeles Premiere at the 2022 Screamfest Horror Film Festival.
The story centers on Ken (John Ross Bowie) and his teenage daughter Winter (Morgan Bastin) as they navigate their first Halloween together after the death of Ken’s wife and Winter’s mother. Halloween was always her favorite time of year; the family would go out every October 31st and trick or treat together. Hence, Ken wants to honor her by dressing up and taking Winter with him, but she is hesitant to do so, feeling she is too old for dress-up and wants to attend a party with her friends. She eventually surrenders to her father’s request and agrees to go trick or treating to one house, and that is good enough for him.
When they knock on Francie’s (Christine Weatherup) door, Ken and Winter get caught up in conversation, waiting on the door to open, and she reluctantly admits that her boyfriend cheated on her. Francie hears the discussion through the door and opens it, inviting them inside. Once in the house, Francie tells Winter she is sorry she was cheated on and then performs a ritual, with both of their help, where her recently dead lover rises from the dead so that Francie can question his infidelity. He admits to it, stating he had a weak moment, and she sends him back to the underworld.
Ken and Winter are left speechless, but Francie dismisses it as a magic Halloween trick, laughing it off. Ken appears relieved, but Winter is overly curious, and as they get ready to depart, she quietly asks her how she performed her magic. She tells her that she and her coven meet up every Wednesday, and she is more than welcome to join them, at which point she smiles at her and then leaves.
“Witchy” is light-hearted and whimsical, never taking itself too seriously. There is no life lesson other than not to cheat on your partner, especially if they’re a witch. John Ross Bowie, Morgan Bastin, Christine Weatherup, and director Liz Manashil keep the movie’s tone high-spirited and effervescent, making for a nice change to so many of the serious and overly dramatic films that come out of many film festivals. Highly recommended.
“Witchy” recently had its Los Angeles Premiere at the 2022 Screamfest Horror Film Festival, and you can watch the film in its entirety below.
