Horror Short Showcase: 'Good Samaritan'

Written by Scott Edwards

With my love for horror movies and now fully understanding that the Independent circuit is the way to go to get my scares in, I have been neglecting a wonderful addition to this legendary genre, the horror shorts. It has nothing to do with the film makers behind these movies, I just believed for so long that there would not be enough substance in these movies to write a full review for them. Knowing now that I was completely wrong with my thinking, it is time to start my very own Horror Short Showcase and I would like to start with Jeffrey Reddick’s first directing job, Good Samaritan.
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After videotaping a man getting brutally beaten outside of his window, Nathan Rome has agreed to be a guest on the news, but has little idea what the reporter, George Reed, has in store for him. Getting a five-thousand-dollar appearance fee, Reed will not pull any punches when it comes to asking the agoraphobic man why he would rather film the event instead of calling the police. Believing that somebody else that was around would have done that, Nathan tries to convince himself that he has done the right thing.

With news coming in that two other witnesses of the assault have died, Nathan fears for his life and for good reason. As he tries to keep a low profile in the house, he is met with a vision of the victim and witnesses his beating once again first hand. Waking up from what he believes is a dream, Nathan starts to get tormented by his own words as his television starts to play and replay what he said in the interview. Turning off the television, Nathan does not believe that he is alone in the house and tries to protect himself, but there is no protection from his conscience and facing the fact that he failed to do the right thing.

This is a great short film that showcases that doing that right thing, albeit not profitable, could help you live a long and happy life. It seems like you see this kind of event happening on a daily basis as people love to record the violent world around them, yet never try to help an innocent bystander. Watching as Nathan’s conscience takes over after his interview, he seems to understand that what he has done is wrong and he cannot escape his fate. What I love about this short is not only the scare factor of not being able to control one’s mind, but seeing what it could do to you for not doing the right thing. Stay Scared.

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