When an alcoholic father leaves his daughter in the car to go to a bar, things take a turn for her that is both dangerous and odd.
Written and directed by William Boodell, the short explores bad parenting and the risks of leaving your child unattended, but with a twist that changes things quite a bit at the end. His writing here leads the viewer in one direction for most of the film and then a twist changes things, which makes sense, and does not feel forced. The characters he creates here are strong and have their own direction and way of handling their situations. He uses these to a great effect and plays on some of society’s fears to bring his film together and make the audience react.
The lead part here is that of Julie, the daughter left in the car to entertain herself while her father goes to drink and her mother is out on Girl’s Night with her friends. This part is played by Bella Anderson, a young actress filled with talent. She takes the part and plays her naturally as a bored kid trying to entertain herself and then as a scared one wanting to survive. Her acting is natural and nuanced and she brought a lot to the part, making it hers and making it feel human. She’s not just fodder for the film, she’s part of it. The rest of the cast is also good, but she steals just about every scene she is in.
The film here is carefully planned with just a few settings that each brings their own challenges. The way each scene is shot shows that cinematographer Sulekh Suman knows what he is doing and how to get the right look for each scene, the right framing to get a beautiful image while giving the story what it needs. The film looks great because of his work and this helps the story in setting a tone that is perfect for it.
Born of Sin is a simple story with a tonal shift and a twist that makes the most of both in creating an effective story that does not go where the viewer expects it to. The acting is strong, with Bella Anderson giving a great, nuanced performance. Her acting brings the viewer in and makes them want to care for her and her plight. Born of Sin is a strong short that shows great talent from all involved.