A bizarre, yet compelling amalgamation of tones, Sew Torn is both dark and clever. A fun little ride short film that continually manages to surprise the viewer across it’s quick run-time. It’s also a perfect encapsulation of what I love about the short form in general: it engages instantly, keeps the viewer constantly guessing on where it’s going, and has a clever, satisfying conclusion. More to the point, it does this all in just six minutes with nary a line of dialogue. Starting in medias res of what feels like a completely different movie, Sew Torn grabs you from the get-go. The aftermath of an action-packed motorcycle chase. A mysterious briefcase. Two downed opponents. Into the bloody fallout drives a character ripped from the set of a Wes Anderson movie, complete with a quirky job and vehicle. The results of all these ingredients coming together is anything but predictable. But, that’s sort of the beauty. You’re glued to the screen wondering how it’s all going to pay off, and then; it does in glorious Rube Goldberg fashion. It’s the kind of short that will leave you smiling in both its conceptual innovation and crafty plot resolution.
