Review for ‘‘Arabesque’’ by Nick Archer

Arabesque is an impressive short by Nick Archer that wears many hats. From that of entertainment industry satire, to that of a socially thoughtful thriller and dark esthetic statement piece. Let's take an investigative look at a film that thoroughly impressed us.

Without giving anything away, the film's plot centers around dancer Elodie and the people she interacts with in her effort to make it in the industry. At their hands, her journey quickly takes an ominous turn, as pictured in a series of dreamy, or rather, nightmarish, sequences that balance between dark humor and the subtle horror of female exploitation & predation. Arabesque's moody atmosphere and disturbing themes suspended in a midnight haze bring to mind the works of Lynch and Winding Refn, in the best way possible. The only thing missing is an edge to the dialogue, and a slightly more succinct plot structure.

Technically, the film is nearly impeccable. Made even more impressive by the production's minuscule budget, the visuals are stunning and follow a clear throughline that translates the corruption and exploitation of the media industry into dark and neon tones covered in mist and smoke, punctuating the confusion and stress of the protagonist. The soundtrack and editing are effective, while the performances are truly a highlight, straddling the line between self-awareness and pure emotion.

We can say no more about Arabesque beyond that it is not only a gritty, floaty visual feast but also an exciting promise of what this tightly-knit team can achieve under more favorable production conditions and with a larger budget. Until then, we remain lost in its misty streets and uncomfortably hot studios, contemplating the dangers and exploitation inherent to our media industry.