'Skin & Bone (2022)' is a slow-burning short film about an enigmatic man who goes to work on a reclusive woman's farm after deciding it's better to be alone. The piece has a strong sense of earthy atmosphere to it, and its horror is very subdued. Its concept is purposefully elusive, with an ambiguous undercurrent that keeps you guessing as to where it's going to go. There's a key moment early on that all but reveals the short's final hand if you're paying attention, but it works as a nice bit of foreshadowing rather than an overtly blunt blunder. The acting is understated yet effective, the editing is assured and the cinematography is - for lack of a better term - professional. The narrative is a bit too oblique to be massively compelling, but it works well enough for what it is and is suitably mysterious. It's a well-made effort that favours its vibe over its story and remains engaging for its majority.
Review of Skin & Bone
