What’s worse than having insomnia? Struggling to sleep and then feeling rotten for the rest of the day, often causes problems in the workplace and personal lives. That’s the issue facing the protagonist in the latest short from Scottish filmmaker Andy Stewart. Hopefully, not everyone’s reasons for suffering are the same as the hapless woman in this film.
Claire (Goldie) is having trouble sleeping. Her nights are restless and terrifying, vivid nightmares haunt her and she awakens in strange places. It’s naturally affecting her wellbeing, and certainly her ability to work, and it’s been noticed by her boss Ian (Vince). Although sympathetic, they can’t tolerate her lack of reliability. However, no matter what she tries her night terrors continue. Even getting as bad as to causing her to go to clubs and picking up strangers.
Things come to a head when she discovers the horrific reason her body is revolting against her.
Director Andy Stewart’s previous three shorts have wowed the festival circuit over the past few years, and with Remnant he moves ever so slightly away from the body horror of Dysmorphia, Split, and Ink. Which is not to say that there’s no element of that here, as there certainly is. Although it’s unlikely this short will have people losing their lunches as some of his earlier films have managed to do.
In a concise running time, the story gives the viewer a full range of emotions. One doesn’t know whether to sympathise with Claire or think she’s bringing it on herself when we see her clubbing and being reckless with a man at the bar. This changes when the shocking reason for her terrible things happening to her body.
Beautifully shot, and impeccably acted, Remnant is a human drama wrapped in a horror blanket. The paranoia and torment that comes when one’s body begins to cause problems is brilliantly portrayed. The level of anxiety built in such a short time is palpable while the payoff still leaves the viewer open to come to their own conclusions.
REMNANT (SHORT FILM) / CERT: TBC / DIRECTOR & SCREENPLAY: ANDY STEWART / STARRING: LUCY GOLDIE, NICHOLAS VINCE, JOHN SCOUGALL / RELEASE DATE: TBC
