Run Away With Me

“If this is a proof of concept for a feature film then it’s a great entry into the story that will likely attract interest…”

1988. A teenage girl goes missing. 30 years later, her best friend is accused of her disappearance.

Director Benjamin Todd’ clear vision with this 1980s inspired Sci-Fi makes for an enjoyable watch and leaves you wanting more. The execution of the script was handled well by the team who achieved a high production value that makes this short film stand out.

The story has a lot of potential and creates a lot of intrigue even before getting to the main plot. Todd keeps the audience guessing until we reach the finale which makes for an enjoyable watch and surprise ending.

Mims Burton as Kayla was extremely well cast, not just for her unique look but her ability to handle the moments between the lines with total confidence and believability. Some of her dialogue may have proved challenging for some actress due to it’s simplicity but Burton handles with with authenticity. The rest of the main cast were also well chosen and handled their roles well. We would have loved to see more from them.

The subtle VFX certainly had it’s place and wasn’t overused for the sake of it. The final scene was a real showpiece and expanded the story into seemingly limitless possibilities. Outstanding work at making this work so well and using it to help forward the story rather than for the sake of it.

Director of Photography Max Edmed made a big impact on this film as the cinematography really stood out, elevating small gaps in the story. The flashback scenes were lit incredibly well to create a particular golden look reminding the audiences of a simpler time from their childhoods. It was an interesting choice to avoid framing the antagonists faces, keeping a sense of mystery and danger.

As for the score from Alastair Adams, simply superb. If it wasn’t for this perfectly scored soundtrack, the film would not have worked as well as it did. Namely the music for the opening scene which added a real sense of urgency and danger that really grabs your attention and intrigue. It’s clear where Adams influences came from but it’s by no means derivative, making for an original score. He fills moments of silence with much needed emotion and meaning, adding purpose to the characters motives.

A solid take from Todd and the team on this interesting story, however there were moments we felt the story was missing some key scenes to add depth and structure. Considering how well the flashback sequences worked, it would have been great to see more of that with a possible hint at how Kayla vanished.

However, if this is a proof of concept for a feature film then it’s a great entry into the story that will likely attract interest...

— APEX Film Awards