I had some time to myself this weekend and it gave me time to browse back over some short films that had been uploaded on Futureshorts. My Rabit Hoppy was just the next one I came to that I decided to watch, after all it was only 3 minutes long so if it is no good then no real time wasted. As such I came to it with no knowledge of what the film was about and I think this is the best way – which is why I flag this review as containing SPOILERS, because if you haven't seen it and you plan to, then it would be better just to go watch it rather than reading comments on it.
The film is a show and tell done by young Henry about his rabbit Hoppy, it is filmed on an old VHS style recorder (or looks like it) and it is made up of frequent cuts which jump us around in time. From the very start there is an odd feel to the edges of the film – not just the visual edges but the bits of the film around the main focus. In the main focus it is a schoolboy's home movie but around the sides of this the film does a great job of making it feel odd. Flies buzz, the rabbit seems a bit out of sorts and gradually it builds beyond this. Something is attached to the house – and it is revealed in such a tense yet fleeting moment that I could hardly watch it. This gives way to a disturbing image of Hoppy in pain and then equally weird images that contrast really well with the relaxed presentation by Henry.
Henry's performance is really good but Peggy really sells her; her panic at times is convincing and really upped the atmosphere. The direction is excellent and, while having the idea is one thing, getting it to work on screen is another thing and Lucas and his family really pull it off. Simple but very effective – I really wasn't prepared for just how disturbing, unsettling and entertaining it was.
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