Who's There? (III) (2018) User Reviews

Knock Knock

[kosmasp · 8/10 · 26 February 2024]

No joke - well you may say obviously since this is not a comedy but a horror movie/short ... hopefully you will still allow me to say no pun (or knock for that matter) intended. The director knows how to market his stuff, very active on Instagram and since he was quite successful with another short he gave this another (viral) try.

While you did not have to pay for the km movie, this one had a renting fee, but if you want to encourage and help independent filmmakers you hopefully won't mind. Though Mike happily will accept "hate money" too (I assume). The short which is about 10 minutes long has a simple premise. Though you can speculate about the bad/evil within (deep within I reckon) and way behind ... the door.

Suspension of disbelief is always necessary and this is not an exception of the rule. Once you've accepted the ... let's call it "door opener" (playing of toy), everything else is fair game. Of course the how, why and where as in origin ... well those things are not really answered. But there has to be some mystique to it ... otherwise it might be boring.

There is some minor nudity in this - if you care one way or the other (it actually shouldn't upset or arouse you, but I am not judging either way) and the sound design is really well done ... cinematography is also really good, but the sound is what elevates the whole thing even further.

Kids Never Listen

[Pils_Horror · 9/10 · 2 March 2024]

I feel like I'm not always the best at reviews. I usually have few words to say even when I really like or love something, but I was given the opportunity to watch another short film from Mike Pecci and contribute to his work so I'll do my best.

At first I was taken aback by the runtime. I knew it was gonna be a short, but not THAT short, lol. But believe me when I say that I had just watched a full length horror film the night before that didn't hit the mark at all, but Who's There? Was able to get the job done within just 10 minutes. The atmosphere and lighting choices were spot on, and that split second scene with the mother in the bathroom was chef's kiss.

I'm for sure interested in knowing what happened before Who's There?. Lol, can we get like a 10 minute prequel?

Would love to see the Feature!

[thinktunk · 7/10 · 14 March 2024]

This is 10 minutes of beautiful atmospheric filmmaking on all fronts. As a proof of concept short, I loved it. It is a nice horror short on its own, and I would love to see a full length feature version.

Visually, this horror short is top notch. It has a great dark and eerie vibe like most good horror stories should, and the beautiful lighting in this film sets the mood just right. The tension building throughout the film is great as well, as it keeps a great sense of mystery contained, letting the viewer use their imagination. If I had one complaint, I would probably say the pinkish/magenta colored light used as a representation of sinister value was probably not the best choice; regardless, it definitely did NOT have a negative impact on the quality of the film.

As a horror fan, I think Who's There has teeth, and I like to be bitten, so someone give this man what he needs to make the feature a reality.

Knock Knock!

Give this man a feature!

[missingreels · 10/10 · 25 November 2019]

This is the second short film I've viewed from director Mike Pecci and I'm just as blown away by it as I was with 12KM.

Mike does an amazing job of taking all of his influences and making this beautiful amalgamation, turning those influences into a new concept all their own. 'Who's There?' I apologize in advance if I'm wrong about these, but, it's just what I saw :)

There are amazing elements of classic haunted house films like Robert Wise's 'The Haunting' and Peter Medak's 'The Changeling' blended with class Bava/Argento high saturated lighting mixed with a little bit of Japanese horror like Ringu, Ju-On, and Kwaidan. There's even a bit of a Hellraiser element involving a key prop (won't spoil it for you).

The premise starts relatively simply with a couple returning home to find their son missing and the babysitter staring almost catatonically into a fire place, unable to articulate what has happened. Once the husband locks eyes with a certain prop the film drastically shifts from a missing child ordeal into a nightmare MUCH worse.

I highly recommend hitting Mike up on social media, sending him your 3 favorite horror films and dropping a little $ support to the film or his podcast to view this film. I hope to see Mike secure a feature of some sort so that we can see more of this level of horror film. Cheers.

Pecci Grows In His Role

[alexgrist-37918 · 8/10 · 29 February 2024]

I've had the joy of watching Mike grow into a bona-fide director to watch, a true visionary intent to carve his own path in the world of cinema. Before I continue I will address the elephant in the room, the 2.99 fee. It's firstly not a fee, it's to help and support future projects if you believe what you've seen so far from previous projects is "worth it". If you still need to think of it as a fee, then it's safe to say its worth it.

Pecci brings this nine minute piece to a huge crescendo, utilising the time without bombarding us with information. I love the Christmas setting and sits well with the story itself, a plot point rather than a gimmick. I'm going the spoiler free route so forgive me for being curt. If you're a fan of Creepshow and other anthology based projects, give this and all Mike's stuff a watch. If you prefer longer movies, that give time for a story to breathe then donate the 2.99 and hopefully we get a full feature that will be more than a long time coming.

2018!?

[gargikhandave · 9/10 · 12 April 2024]

I didn't know it was from 2018!?

Well to talk about the flim It's a perfect horror Thriller with a twist and if your in for the Twista this is the one for you As for me I'm more into traditional thrillers so this didn't make the cut for me but indeed had me on a adrenaline rush for quite a while.

The movie itself delivers a great show woth thoughtful jumpscared ( which are few) along side a beautiful storyline The acting is good and so are the props If you're someone is in for the theories then this is the one for you as it has alot to analyze and look into .

To be honest I loved the metaphors and acting to be honest

I saw some resemblance to the 12km in this and it didnt disappoint me at all , I feel like it's the directors way of portraying the past .

At last its worth watching. So I hope yall love it.

Rad as Heck!

[chelonmellon · 10/10 · 20 February 2024]

Holy butt monkeys! Mike Pecci really nailed it here. This definitely has a cosmic horror vibe going on mixed with some Jinn kink. Definitely an under utilized genre.

The actors were great and did what they needed to with the time allotted. As with most great short films characters usually need to be able to show a high range of emotion and all were top notch.

The story is fantastic for as short as it is. It really seems to give a lot more lore and background than it actually does. This is a trick that good film writing does by making you fill in the blanks yourself but still leave you wanting more.

The lighting was killer and gave the film a an odd otherworldly giallo feel that lets you know something is off.

The neon pulsing pink cosmic horror pairs perfectly with the 80's inspired synth soundtrack that will give you John Carpenter vibes.

All in all it definitely deserves a watch especially if you love cosmic horror and sexy genies.

Tension, desperation, and mystery

[senasaimportaciones · 10/10 · 29 March 2024]

A highly recommended short film that will undoubtedly captivate you!

In each passing minute, this movie skillfully evokes a sense of tension, desperation, and mystery, enveloping you in an atmosphere of chilling Christmas horror. The central question lingers: Who or what took away the family's youngest son? There's only one clue to follow!

As the story unfolds, you find yourself torn between the desire to unravel the mystery and the sheer brilliance of the film, which leaves you yearning for it to extend further. It's a testament to the director's exceptional talent in crafting a narrative that keeps you on the edge of your seat.

Adding to its intrigue, the director has a unique approach to sharing their films. Rather than conventional distribution channels, he personally provides a password to access their work. This exclusivity adds an extra layer of excitement, as the only way to watch the film is by directly requesting the password from the director.

With its gripping storyline, masterful execution, and the director's unconventional distribution method, this short film is an absolute must-watch. Prepare to be enthralled for its entire duration as you embark on a suspenseful journey that will leave you craving for more.

So tense

[monkeymonster · 10/10 · 27 May 2024]

Atmospheric camera work and lighting design with immersive sound design draws the viewer in very quickly. It builds on the "creep factor" more than delivering the quiet, quiet, BANG style jump scares seen in so much modern cinema. At times it reminded me of the Nic Cage movie Color Out Of Space. Top quality acting from the cast, the young female in the lead really standing out as a top notch performance. I have seen the director's other movie 12 Kilometers and i am starting to believe that he is a name to watch out for as he is going places. I hope the next movie is a feature film. I highly recommend this.

Great concept!

[davidsheldonmusic · 6/10 · 9 March 2024]

Just watched it 4 times back to back.

I did like it, it's a very cool idea. Just like 12km, there's a lot to try and unpack in a very short amount of time. The Dad and Babysitter were very believable. Mom, not so much.

Visually, it can get a little washy at times. It says 4k, but I assume that's mostly just aspect ratio. Has more of a "film" look, I guess. It's probable that it was a 1080 shoot exported in 4k in fcpx to avoid additional streaming compression.

I feel like somethings could have been a little "cleaner" looking. There's a lot of bokah/depth of field stuff and sometimes drawing THAT much attention/focus to the subject makes you forget about the situation or surroundings.

Lots of earth tones through the short, and yes, that makes *other stuff* pop, but it's a lot of the same colour for most of the piece. A little flat. Kitchen scene and final hallway scene it's hard to even see what's going on. High beams in the fog kinda thing...

Sonically, I feel like it could have dealt with half the music/ ominous tones. Leaving room and creating dynamic lulls aurally would make certain things hit a little harder.

I love the concept, it DID leave me wanting more, there are a lot questions unanswered, but I'm pretty sure this is a few years old and even @mikepecci would change some stuff given the opportunity.

My favourite part is when the Dad first exposes himself to the box, and follow up search scene. It had the most dynamic range visually and sonically.

Was it worth $3? Maybe. In an age where major movies are $5 to rent, the comparison isn't exactly fair, so I'm happy to donate some $ to potentially fund the next thing. I do have my fingers crossed that Mike is making his own notes on his own stuff so that the next thing is that much better. For a 10min short, it ticks a lot of boxes, but also leaves some things to be desired.

I like the little tributes to Hellraiser and Ghostbusters without being way too on the nose.

6/10? Who knows. Could I do better? Probably not, so Who am I to judge.

Radiant

[jamesgoode-86762 · 10/10 · 4 April 2024]

I absolutely loved this short film! Stunning visuals, killer track, and the story grabs you immediately. I could feel the tension radiating from the screen, making my heart beat faster. Will the mom and dad find their child, or with the monster feed? The answer did not disappoint. Neither did the questions this one shot left me with. What happened to the babysitter? All that knocking, constantly moving, changing pitch...seems like a far worse hell than even answering the door. That pink light is probably the most sinister of all. Especially coming from the miniature carousel. I absolutely loved this film!

Amazing Short Horror

[akrieger-48567 · 10/10 · 27 May 2024]

Mike Pecci and his team really did a phenomenal job in conveying an unseen horror behind closed doors. Discovering Pecci through his other short film "12KM" I have fallen in love with the story telling and pacing of his work.

The use of warm and cool tones throughout this short film is what really caught my eye, directing the viewer's attention to what needs to be seen and highlighting what might seem as just ordinary, but really is very important. The color theory mixed with the anxiety inducing ambient music is what really drives home the unseen horror.

The actors in this were amazing!! In such a short amount of time we as the audience get to see such a wide range of emotions, especially from Maggie, who played the baby sitter- the close up shots of her face were just fantastic!

For anyone with a little bit of time who wants something very Lovecraftian, this is the short film for you.

Intense!

[jholtsmith-40494 · 10/10 · 6 March 2024]

The intensity! The pacing! The cinematography! The suspense! This movie is short, but it is more than worth watching, it as an experience to be had. The movie starts with the plot already underway, we easily fill in the back story as we go. It's a simple set up, but from there the questions and the intensity unfold very quickly and take us on a ride that keeps us guessing until the end (and perhaps even after!). Furthermore this film is worth seeing for the cinematography alone. The way it lends itself to the suspenseful nature of the movie through it's interesting usage of shot placement, and various effects of lighting is extremely well done. Nothing in the piece feels overwrought or silly, which is too often a pitfall for horror type films. I definitely recommend seeing this movie!