Nerds That Geek Short Film Review: 'The Halloween Girl'

Written by John Edward Betancourt

When it comes to the horror genre, I've often found that ghost stories are either hit or miss. You're either treated to something fantastic that manages to chill you to your core enough that you make sure all the lights are on before you go to bed. As for the rest, well we know how it goes. Cheap scares, and a sense of disappointment on your way out of the theater. 

Either way, that seems to be where the genre has been for ages, a split between quality and quantity and well, I really had not expected to find anything refreshing and new in the genre...that is until I stumbled upon a recent find, The Halloween Girl from Mad Shelley Films and Writer/Director Richard T. Wilson. 

The story for this short film is simple enough. Young Luke meets a mysterious girl named Charlotte, a name that seems to give his mother chills every time she hears it and with good reason. Long ago Charlotte was part of the family before a tragic accident, but there is another secret Luke's mother is hiding and Charlotte will continue to haunt her until it is revealed. 

Now one might think that from there, the film heads into pretty predictable territory and that's where I was completely and utterly wrong. Turns out that in many ways, The Halloween Girl is a total reinvention of the ghost genre, giving us a spirit filled with different motivations. Without spoiling the awesome and incredible twist, I will say that the genre has never explored what a family means to a ghost, or vice versa. It's always been about the need for peace for a spirit, or the need for revenge and I love the fact that this film took everything in such a different direction.

If anything this short was so well done that you find yourself wanting more. After all, it's filled with vibrant characters and fascinating ideas and if Mad Shelley Films and Richard Wilson decide to make a sequel I would be absolutely estatic. I mean hey, I could easily see the unique concept put forth here being explored in great detail. But, if they don't go the sequel route, that's okay too. This film stands on its own and it's worth several viewings, and I'll speak from experience on that since I watched it three times in a row to make sure I didn't miss anything in this loaded story. 

If you'd like a chance to see a unique and fresh take on the ghost genre, head over to Mad Shelly Films' website and snag yourself a copy of this little gem. I really can't praise this film enough, because it's always wonderful to find a true diamond in the rough in a genre that deserves only the best in storytelling.

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