One of the benefits of a short film is being provided with a story that doesn’t need to be overtly long. This is an obvious statement, but one that gets overlooked. Some tales don’t need to go past a fifteen minute mark to effectively generate results. To go longer would stretch the material and lessen the impact.
“The Crossing” isn’t one of those short films. While it’s well shot and boasts gorgeous cinematography, it feels too rushed at fifteen minutes. Brandon Bentley does a superb job of building mystique, opening on a beautiful wide shot of the woods. The sun beams down, but is covered by the trees, creating a bleak white blanket. Fitting lightning for such a grim tale.
A young woman wakes up in the middle of the woods with a nasty bump on her head and a knife in her hand. How she got here and why she’s banged up is a mystery to both her and the audience. Bentley immediately engages us by making us as confused as the woman. Within a matter of minutes, we’re curious to see where the story goes.
I won’t spoil where it goes, but will state that it does lead to events that highlight nifty special effects. Fans of the gore will be pleased, while those high on storytelling and suspense will be intrigued. This seems like the perfect combo and, for a short while, it is. The problem Bentley encounters is pacing issues. Fifteen minutes feels too short for this story, with the reveal feeling rushed. Another fifteen to twenty minutes to pad out the details and build more suspense would’ve been wise.
I almost want to recommend “The Crossing”, as it as a gorgeous short film that boasts great special effects. However, the rushed story dampens the positives. What I can recommend is keeping an eye on Brandon Bentley. He’s a gifted filmmaker with a great eye for cinematography! Hopefully, his next project will be better.
Final Verdict: Skip It