[Short Film Review] MIRRORED

We’ve all been in a situation where the best course of action is to leave well enough alone. Maybe a loved one asks you to give them some space. Perhaps your finicky computer won’t let you save a file. Hell, even that pimple on your chin will heal faster if you don’t touch it.

But even though we know that interfering won’t help, we can’t help but feel the urge to act, to call the friend, slam on the keyboard, or poke at our skin. It may be hubris, but it’s part of human nature to want to take matters into our own hands.

In MIRRORED, Dylan (Aaron Jay Rome) discovers just how dangerous that temptation can be when a mirror delivery man (Dave Colan) accidentally replaces Dylan’s broken bathroom mirror with the “portal to hell special.”

Of course, Dylan doesn’t see anything off at first, but when he turns out the light, a blue-hued demon appears trapped behind the glass. Since that’s not how mirrors are supposed to work, “like, at all,” Dylan calls Gus’ Window & Mirrors and asks that he replace the mirror. Unfortunately, Gus won’t be able to pick it up until the next day. But never fear, he has some easy-to-follow advice for Dylan in the meantime. “Stay out of the bathroom and do not get sucked in.”

Of course, that’s easier said than done, and when Dylan runs to take a much-needed pee break during a gaming tournament, he finds that the creature beyond the mirror seems to be actively trying to get out. Sure, Dylan could lock the bathroom, leave the house, or even call Gus back and demand he gets over here pronto, but our hero wants to fix this right now. And if you want something done fast, you have to do it yourself, right?

Directed by Ryan Shovey and written by Nicole Bird, MIRRORED is a fun little glimpse into a frustrating domestic situation gone demonic. Aaron Jay Rome does a fine job bringing the story to life as Dylan by playing the stakes without pushing too deeply into the absurdist premise. There are also some fantastic illustrations provided by House of Secrets that are cleverly used to fill out aspects of the film that would have been impossible to shoot on a small budget.

If you’re looking for a quick and fun escape from the everyday, give MIRRORED a watch. Just don’t get too close . . . or else.

Adrienne Clark
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