Review for ‘‘The Caterpillar’’ by Matt Bentley-Viney
Caterpillar is a gem of a horror short by first-time writer/director Matt Bentley-Viney. Despite his main body of experience being in podcasts and not filmmaking, you wouldn't know this isn't the work of an experienced director, as Caterpillar combines little-explored themes with a time-tested psychological horror formula.
The minimalist plot revolves around a man that suddenly finds himself losing grip of reality as the people nearest to him are inexplicably replaced by strange versions of themselves. Caterpillar uses its short runtime to explore the way the human psyche reacts to and internalizes change, be it the inevitability of age, the peer pressure of friends' progressing lives, or changes in one's romantic situation. Horror, especially as it has evolved in the last decade, is the perfect vessel for this type of psychological and social commentary, and Bentley-Viney obviously draws inspiration from the greats, be it Cronenberg's body horror or a Kafkaesque protagonist beset by the surreal.
Excellent sound design, effective visual motifs, great if limited in scope practical effects and a subdued, paranoia-inducing lighting design all work in tandem to augment the feelings of disorientation and oppression inherent in the protagonist's struggle. Expert editing and costume/makeup design are instrumental in facilitating the character switches that are central to the plot, and the final camera shot serves as an iconic, nightmarish punctuation mark. The performances may not stand out spectacularly, but especially the protagonist is more than capable of rising to the story's needs.
The final verdict on Caterpillar is that of a standout first effort, let down slightly by its formulaic structure. All in all however it beautifully combines cinematic and literary tradition, inspired cinematography and an exploration of themes common to every human yet seldom explored. We definitely hope to see more, progressively wilder projects from filmmaking newcomer Matt Bentley-Viney and his team.
