Sunday Short Theatre – Drum Wave (2018)

There’s not a day goes by without myself talking about the importance of short film as a stepping stone into feature films. This weeks Sunday Short Theatre Drum Wave comes from Natalie Erika James , whose  full debut feature, Relic is now out in UK cinemas and on digital.

This horror short is not one that relies on jump scares, it prefers to build layers of dread. It stars Jenny Wu as our protagonist, who plays a talent pianist confronting the fears of motherhood. Entering  into the sanctum of an remote island community who have uniquely strange fertility rituals.

This is the fourth short film that you can file into folk horror which the likes of The Wickerman and more recently Midsommar. There is hints of supernatural elements and tackles the film similar to Relic, deeply personal.

Related: Relic director Natalie Erika James and actor Bella Heathcote on personal connections with their film

The cinematography which was done by Charlie Sorroff  who worked on all James shorts and Relic. It amplifies the intensity, overwhelming trepidation and disorientation. Another slice of evidence that Natalie Erika James is shaping to be a big talent in the Horror genre especially psychological horror. If you enjoyed Relic and off course this short film, Drum Wave looks set to be her next feature film.

Related: Film Review – Relic (2020)

The story of a young pianist forced to confront her fear of motherhood when she marries into a remote island community with bizarre fertility rituals.

Source: Short Of The Week