THE OTHER SOUL TO EVIE
M W Daniels (2020)
Short film
3.5 STARS
A twenty-five-minute exploration of dealing with tragedy, The Other Soul to Evie encapsulates the roller-coaster that is coping with misfortune and mental health. When Felix (Charlie Suff) has a tragic accident, responsibility for him falls to his sister, the titular Evie (Charlotte Gould), but is she a secure enough custodian for her brother?
The sound design from open to close is beautifully haunting, reminiscent of the striking violin notes we find in the horror genre. This aids in building a sinister quality that immediately puts the audience on edge. However, the true hero of this short is the cinematography. Eerie shades of purple effectively initiate tone while darkness and shadow are used to appealing effect. Establishing shots of the apartment building are well designed and sandwich the film well. A particular shot at the midpoint employs a fluid Dutch angle and is an aesthetic highlight.
The dialogue can feel forced at times, but Suff and Gould give sympathetic performances that drive home the unfortunate situation in which the siblings find themselves. A vital plot point towards the end of the film feels somewhat contrived, this is a little distracting; however, can be over-looked and doesn’t detract from the flow of the film.
The Other Soul to Evie is a well pieced together short film that writer/director M W Daniels can be proud of. Solid performances from the cast highlight the ill-fated circumstances of the characters while the camera work, lighting and sound design make up for what the film lacks script-wise.