I've decided it would be best for me to first research short films that blend thriller and comedy aspects, and then research short films that are more comedic and more thriller-like rather than a blend of the two to ensure I get an equal balance of both of these aspects. Today I'll analyze two thriller-comedies.
"Put Your Shopping Cart Away"
This short film follows a man who shops at a grocery store late at night and decides to not return his shopping cart after loading his car, despite a sign clearly asking all customers to do so. An employee is then seen menacingly staring straight at the protagonist, who then terrorizes him and his family for the rest of the piece, dismantling their home and even killing his wife. At the end of the film, the main character is homeless and sleeps outside of the grocery store and sees another man decide to not return his shopping cart, and before being able to warn him, the same employee holds him back and gives rge man the same menacing stare.
The thriller elements of this film come most directly from the soundtrack and lighting, as whenever the protagonist feels as if his antagonizing cart-pusher is nearing, a bone-chilling, eerie score is heard in the background. The combination of this with low-key lighting such as when he sees his wife's lifeless body laying on the ground ultimately work to create unsettling sequences with claustrophobic and seemingly unescapable circumstances, aligning with thriller conventions.
The comedic aspects of the film come from its overall absurdity in terms of plot, and physical comedy as well. I mean the entire concept of having a cart-pushing, psychotic killer is pretty absurd in and of itself. Additionally, the concept of dragging out aspects of everyday life to completely new extremes is evident here, as it is common knowledge that grocery store employees are inconvenienced by those who refuse to return their carts, but this film questions how psychotic this aspect of everyday life could possibly make someone
The protagonists questionable and often abnormal response to the terror he is experiencing also add to the overall comedy in the film. For example, when he hears his wife and daughter screaming and begging for help, when he sees his wife recording, his first response is to fix his hair in the mirror as opposed to rushing in to help them.
Overall, it feels like this film's absurdity in terms of plot help reinforce both its degree of being a comedy and being a thriller, as the plot is equally as comedic as it is intense
CROOK$:
This film centers around two friends who decide to rob a liquor store for reasons that aren't made abundantly clear, but have something to do with their dog Heisenberg's health. Once they infiltrate the store, however, they find that the cashier is actually another robber who was knocked out and taken the place of the actual cashier, and therefore can't access the cash register. Alarmed, the girls flee the scene, but ultimately decide to return to defeat robber and claim all the liquor in the store for themselves.
The most clear convention of thriller followed by this film is how it blends the line between good and bad, as obviously robbery is a crime and moral wrongdoing, but it is difficult not to sympathize with 2 friends who just wish to help their dog. Thriller is further reinforced through intense visuals and the use of violence, such as when the girls break a bottle over the robber's head.
The reveal of the unconscious body behind the cash register is equally as intense, and the change in sound from completely diegetic and empty sound to a haunting score help intensify this reveal and make it clear that the threat of another criminal is deathly close.
The comedic aspects of the film come almost entirely from the use of dialogue. For example, in the very opening sequence of the film, the two friends argue over whether or not they'll wear a mask during the robbery as the other friend wishes to look 'cute' on camera. Continuous, uninterrupted 2 shots where you can clearly see both character's expressions help enhance the comedic effect of this particular sequence.
Despite clear attempts at it, I feel this film falls a little short in terms of its degree of comedy. Just relying on dialogue rather than working some funny elements into the story itself is pretty risky unless you know for a fact your dialogue is hilarious, which in this case, quite honestly it felt kind of unnatural and unnecessary.
Overall, from my delving into hybrid thriller-comedies, I've found that the most engaging and enjoyable ones find a way for the plot itself to create the comedy and thriller instead of forcing one aspect for the sake of forcing it. I'll be sure to keep this in mind as I continue crafting my finalized narrative for my short film.
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