SKID FLOW BATS

Directed by Ben Worsham

Magic Sam – Gray Creasy
Damian – James A. Brown
Veronica – Sally Young

Like so many shorts I’ve seen recently, Ben Worsham’s excellent 22 minute SKID FLOW BATS feels like it’s only part of much larger picture. Magic Sam was once the owner of The Red Cup Club, the local vampire hangout. Some time ago he passed the torch to Damian who has grown tired of the life and intern has fellow bloodsucker, Veronica, take over. Over the years, Veronica comes to see The Red Cup as hers and has no plans of giving it back to Damian. The problem is Damian doesn’t want the club back, Magic Sam does, and he’s the baddest bitch on the block.

Gray Creasy gives one of the finest acting performances that I’ve seen in a micro-budget production. He’s calm, natural, and menacing. Skin and bones, Creasy’s comes across as nothing more than a walking skeleton. He’s a skull with eyes.

James A. Brown plays Damian with a subtle flamboyance similar to many Oliver Platt performances. Sally young seems miscast compared to the others. You can tell she’s playing a part and it contrasts dramatically with the rest of the performers.

SKID FLOW is beautifully shot and expertly edited. I spoke with Ben and he says it was shot with a Canon Optura and edited with Adobe Premier. The look if flawless, there is great southern gothic atmosphere. You almost have to wonder why everyone just doesn’t go digital over tape.

I hate to sound like I’m nit-picking, but I really did want to see a longer film. There is a lot of backstory that is only hinted at and there seems to be a build up to something much more down road. I think that says a lot about the strength of the screenplay. A common problem among young filmmakers is to cram as much exposition as they can into 30 seconds of dialogue. The most creative thing you can do is allow the audience to use their imaginations. You’re almost doing the audience a disservice by ignoring their intellect. Thank goodness Ben Worsham doesn’t fall into that trap. Check out SKID FLOW BATS.


Order directly from the Lux 13 website.