Along with wishing Mom and Dad would just realize you know what’s best for yourself and leave you alone already (God you guys, seriously!), wanting to get back at those who did mean things to you is probably the one of the top fantasies of high school kids. And since there’s arguably no single crueler entity on earth than a roving pack of adolescent girls, the mean and vicious things done to fellow teenagers during one of the most emotional vulnerable phases of their life can leave lasting scars.
GIVERTAKER from Arcanum Pictures on Vimeo.
That desire for sweet, sweet revenge is the basis of the horror short “Givertaker,” written and directed by Peter S. Hall and Paul Gandesman, respectively. The two are the creative force behind Arcanum Pictures, the indie production company from Austin, Texas, that has already helped bring to life youth-centric movies from young filmmaker Emily Hagins (My Sucky Teen Romance, Grow Up, Tony Philips). The film tells the story of an angry girl (Nell Kessler, looking like a young Vera Farmiga) who turns to the supernatural in her quest to get back at those who did her harm. It’s a simple but enjoyable throwback to the Are You Afraid Of The Dark? anthology that aired back in the day on Nickelodeon, and a great way to kill 1o minutes of your day. Killing, of course, being one of the primary longings of picked-on kids when they think about their bullies.