In The Sci-Fi Short 'A Crimson Man,' A Young Boy & Battered Robot Must Learn To Trust Each Other To Escape Their War-Torn World

July 13, 2018 by Rod T. Faulkner in Science Fiction, Short Film

In the sci-fi short A Crimson Man, a young runaway boy named Wei (Maddox Henry) is searching for his father in a land torn apart by a long-running war between humans and sentient robots called "Crimson Men."

While on his quest, Wei encounters a robot he dubs "Red." Red (voiced by Daniel Clarkson) is scarred by years of battle and is fleeing from the war.

The young boy and hulking robot begrudgingly agree to join forces in order to escape their ravaged land. However, an encounter with the enemy sparks erratic behavior in Red, causing Wei to doubt if he can trust his mechanized companion.

Written and directed by filmmaker Mike Pappa, A Crimson Man is an impressive homage to classic sci-fi coming-of-age cinema which includes iconic films such as E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial, Flight Of The Navigator, and The Iron Giant.

Those films juxtapose the wonder-filled exuberance of youth against the fantastical to explore often very heavy themes including fear of abandonment and alienation.

In A Crimson Man, Pappa effectively uses his speculative narrative to probe the complex dynamics between parent and child, as well as the effects of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).

The short film successfully transports viewers into its intriguing world by use of its visually arresting aesthetic that is a handsome mix of lush pastoral combined with the retro-stylings of steampunk.

Experience A Crimson Man here...

Make sure to check out our podcast Eye On Sci-Fi. Join host and The 7th Matrix founder Rod T. Faulkner as he spotlights terrific indie SFF short films and web series.

We are proud of the fact The 7th Matrix has been operating AD-FREE since its inception in 2013. Please help us continue. Thank you!

We also accept donations via Bitcoin using this address:

1EdGZQu1hcpzTYiTzoBD66bFC6ubH1pVL1

Two British Agents Encounter A Powerful Paranormal Being In The Sci-Fi Short 'The Winter's Club'

July 06, 2018 by Rod T. Faulkner in Science Fiction, Short Film

The Winter's Club is a remarkable sci-fi short film by Chris Stone, an independent filmmaker whose work we have long admired here at The 7th Matrix.

The short begins within the crumbling bowls of an abandoned neo-gothic building. Two British agents, Shaw (Rachel Shenton) and Shepard (Richard Jack), have been tasked with tracking down Winter (Lewis Brindley) - a powerful member of a group of genetically engineered humans who possess paranormal abilities.

While Shaw believes these beings to be extremely dangerous, Shepard holds a far more compassionate view.

When the duo finally catch up to Winter, he isn't at all what they expect. Their encounter with him reveals life-altering secrets that shatters the agents' worldview.

Originally an entrant in the 2013 Sci-Fi London 48 Hour Film Challenge, The Winter's Club is a prime example of Chris Stone's ability to make low budget filmmaking look and feel truly cinematic.

At a run time of just over four and a half minutes, Stone manages to craft a complete, compelling sci-fi narrative inhabited by characters you quickly become invested in. Major credit must also be given to the superb performances turned in by the cast.

Watch The Winter's Club here...

The Winter's Club is further proof all that is needed to craft an excellent science fiction film is a solid script, capable actors, and a filmmaker with vision and passion.

Discover more of Chris Stone's work by visiting his official web site ChrisStoneShowReels.com.

Make sure to check out our podcast Eye On Sci-Fi. Join host and The 7th Matrix founder Rod T. Faulkner as he spotlights terrific indie SFF short films and web series.

We are proud of the fact The 7th Matrix has been operating AD-FREE since its inception in 2013. Please help us continue. Thank you!

We also accept donations via Bitcoin using this address:

1EdGZQu1hcpzTYiTzoBD66bFC6ubH1pVL1

Sci-Fi Short Film Spotlight: ENTROPY

November 17, 2016 by Rod T. Faulkner in Science Fiction, Short Film

Every so often, a film is released that breaks with traditional filmmaking conventions, and manages to provide a completely captivating viewing experience.

The dialogue-free sci-fi short film ENTROPY by Tim Cahn is just such an example.

The three and a half minute, digitally animated short depicts a lone spaceship departing the earth. Traveling past the moon and planets, the vessel arrives at an enormous space station at the edge of our solar system.

There, a portal opens enabling the ship to continue its mysterious voyage into the cosmos.

Who built the spaceship?

What circumstances led the ship to be launched in the first place?

Where is its final destination?

How far in the future are the events depicted taking place?

These are a few of the questions the short leaves unanswered, only adding to the tantalizing allure of this gorgeously animated film.

Make no mistake, the visuals are the star of this short.

The jaw-dropping digital renderings of celestial bodies conjure up the breathtaking majesty of the heavens.

Watch ENTROPY here ...

Enjoy over 30 hours of outstanding sci-fi, horror, and fantasy short films by downloading our film guide, 200 Best Online Sci-Fi Short Films.

All proceeds from the sale of this ebook help keep The 7th Matrix independent and AD-FREE.

Sci-Fi Short Film Spotlight: ZELOS

October 25, 2016 by Rod T. Faulkner in Science Fiction, Short Film

Zelos is the provocative sci-fi short film commissioned by KQED'S Film School Shorts to open its fourth season.

Directed by Thoranna Sigurdardottir, Zelos tells the story of Maria (Erica Piccininni), a woman who appears to have a modern storybook life - devoted husband Mordecai (Michael Ornstein), two exuberant children, and a showplace home.

However, she is feeling overwhelmed by the demands of her personal and professional life, as well the unspoken competition she is engaged in with Ari (Brooke Nevin), a beautiful colleague.

Desperate, Maria decides to purchase an exact genetic clone of herself to help her manage her many responsibilities. She thinks she has found the perfect solution to her problems - until she realizes she has enabled a nearly perfect rival.

Watch Zelos here (Please note the film contains mature themes and subject matter. It may not be suitable for all viewers) ...

Like sci-fi series Humans, Black Mirror and Westworld, Zelos shines a scathing light on our increasingly fraught relationship with our technology.

In our quest to "do and have it all," we have turned to revolutionary connective technologies such as smartphones, social media, The Internet Of Things and A.I. virtual assistants to help us achieve the holy grail of optimum productivity.

Despite the promises of greater connection, efficiency and personal freedom made by these technologies, many of us find ourselves ironically feeling more disconnected and over-extended than ever before.

Sci-fi narratives like Zelos are cautionary tales, warning us against the folly of depending on technology alone to foster the connection and complex relationships we need to sustain us.

Enjoy over 30 hours of outstanding sci-fi, horror, and fantasy short films by downloading our film guide, 200 Best Online Sci-Fi Short Films.

All proceeds from the sale of this ebook help keep The 7th Matrix independent and AD-FREE.

Sci-Fi Short Film Spotlight: Darkwave - Edge Of The Storm

October 21, 2016 by Rod T. Faulkner in Science Fiction, Short Film

Darkwave: Edge Of The Storm is an example of a sci-fi short film so well-produced, not adapting it into a full-length feature or series would be criminal.

Set 100 years in the future, humanity has begun expanding out into the stars.

On distant planet New Earth-72, Sarah (Nathalie Cox), her husband David (Robin Kirwan), along with their young son Ben (Ben Shahin-Scales), are on the run, fugitives from their government.

During their flight, they stumble upon a defunct communications installation. There, they discover long-held secrets that threaten to alter the course of human history.

Darkwave: Edge Of The Storm boasts exceptional production on every level.

For example, the cinematography and visual effects feel truly cinematic. They help lend the film a grand sense of scope.

The actors are wonderful too. Their chemistry together feels natural and organic. You soon come to care for this family, and their fate.

The short also features veteran character actor Shane Rimmer (Dr. Strangelove, Batman Begins) in a cameo as Ben's maternal grandfather Captain Anderson.

Watch Darkwave: Edge Of The Storm here ...

Enjoy over 30 hours of outstanding sci-fi, horror, and fantasy short films by downloading our film guide, 200 Best Online Sci-Fi Short Films.

All proceeds from the sale of this ebook help keep The 7th Matrix independent and AD-FREE.

Sci-Fi Short Film Spotlight: A DROP - A Man Dives Into The Unknown To Escape A Forsaken Megalopolis

August 15, 2016 by Rod T. Faulkner in Short Film, Science Fiction

A solitary unnamed man (Alex Winters) in the heart of an immense, ruined, and forsaken megalopolis, stands on the ledge of a skyscraper that stretches miles into the sky.

He drops from atop the tower, and falls through a dizzying, dazzling panorama of surreal imagery into the realm of the unknown.

Has the man discovered a hidden portal that offers an escape from his devastated and abandoned metropolis?

Maybe it is a figment of his imagination - a way for his mind to achieve release from unimaginable loneliness and despair?

Or is his dive an act of suicide?

The sci-fi short film a DROP does not offer any concrete answers. Instead, the events depicted are intentionally left open to your interpretation.

Watch a DROP here ...

What filmmaker Julien Vanhoenacker achieves with a DROP is a compelling dialogue-free narrative that possesses a surprisingly affecting emotional arc.

An arc made possible by Vanhoenacker's vision and adroit use of magnificent visual and CGI effects.

Enjoy over 30 hours of outstanding sci-fi, horror, and fantasy short films by downloading our film guide, 200 Best Online Sci-Fi Short Films.

All proceeds from the sale of this ebook help keep The 7th Matrix independent and AD-FREE.

Short Film Spotlight: Posthumanismaniarama! - A Dark Sci-Fi Comedy About Transhumanism

August 15, 2015 by Rod T. Faulkner in Science Fiction

Transhumanism - the international movement to improve humanity by means of ever advancing technology - is the target of this brilliant and subversive short film by Casey Duke Feldman.

The short is actually a series of vignettes that take place in different settings around the globe, in various time periods.

From the earliest days of dial-up internet in 1996, to the speculated future of 2050 where nanotechnology has become deeply interwoven into the fabric of everyday life, Posthumanismaniarama! explores our storied relationship and obsession with technology through the lens of satire.

A prime example (also a film highlight) is the send-up of Apple's infamous product launches.

After the exhortation of each device's ever more sleeker, faster, and powerful specs, the crowd erupts into an almost orgasmic furor.

Watch the complete short film here ...

With it's darkly comedic and thoughtful commentary, Posthumanismaniarama! poses significant questions about the future of our increasingly complex relationship with technology.

Enjoy over 30 hours of outstanding sci-fi, horror, and fantasy short films by downloading our ebook 200 Best Online Sci-Fi Short Films.

All proceeds from the sale of this ebook help keep The 7th Matrix independent and AD-FREE.