“SHORTWAVE is a modern and unrelentingly tense psychological thriller that is based on a theory of the origins of shortwave radio frequencies. SHORTWAVE also is an unnerving reminder that some stones are best left unturned.”
SHORTWAVE by Ryan Gregory Phillips is a fun artsy tour de force horror thriller that tells a story of a parent’s love for their daughter who was abducted as they try to figure out how to move forward with their lives. When they move into a new house, paid for by the company, in which Josh, the husband does research for, they begin to rebuild their new life.
Isabel, played by Juanita Ringeling, discovers the radio in which her husband and his partner have been working on. Putting on the headphones, she at first hears static, but she learns to listen past it and from there discovers a place where she can see her daughter – and something much more sinister: the truth!
The film opens up with one long steadicam shot where we follow our mother and daughter (Isabel and Amanda) where they cross the street and enter into a bookstore/library where Amanda is dropped off. We then follow Isabel into the bathroom and upon exiting finds that her daughter, as well as everyone there, is gone.
As a fellow filmmaker, I enjoyed the aesthetic and sound of this film. Also, the sound design and soundtrack of this film is absolutely amazing. I find that most filmmakers are not aware of the importance of sound design, so it’s nice to see Mr. Phillips put as much thought and care into that as he does the look of the film.
I enjoyed Juanita Ringeling’s performance as Isabel, as she was strong and sensitive, and I’m definitely a fan of Ryan Gregory Phillips, so I look forward to seeing more of his work int he future.
SHORTWAVE is now available to own on DVD and VOD
- Interview: Director Maria Pulera for BETWEEN WORLDS - December 21, 2018
- Oak Cliff Film Festival Review: WINTER BROTHERS (2018) - June 20, 2018
- Toronto True Crime Film Festival Review: THE SANDMAN (2017) - June 9, 2018
