After his untimely death on the night of his engagement, a man haunts his love until he finds a way to visit her in the “flesh”.
Nocturnally Yours is the sixth title on writer/director David Ferino’s IMDB resume. Here he creates a darkly funny story of love that transcends death, of a man who is not ready to move on and a woman who is not ready to let go finding a way to reconnect that turns absolutely hilarious. The story is wrong on quite a few levels, yet is so entertaining. The film takes this crazy idea, runs with it, and succeeds in making something that should make people with a dark or twisted sense of humor laugh out loud. The story is well told, the humor is on point, and the way it’s all delivered makes for a fun few minutes.
The entirety of the film set in basically one apartment is acted by 4 people, all involved in the love story one way or another. Playing the dead man named Joe is Adam Nee who the viewer gets to see just a bit at the start and then we can hear his voice as the film goes on. His portrayal is funny and brings a touch of humor to a haunting. Playing his beloved, Charlotte, is Ellary Porterfield who is bereaved, loving, surprised, and courageous. Her performance is the center of this short and the beckons logic almost and the guide of what the viewer thinks watching some of the scenes unfold. Playing the other two characters are Bonnie Aarons as Ingrid and Waymond Lee as Tad. These two come into the story in way that cannot be revealed here, but it can be said that their delivery adds to the humor by being a bit cold at times and perfectly changed under the story’s circumstances which gives them a lot to work with in terms of character development.
The film music by Max Lombardo adds to the fun of the film, adding just the right amount of liveliness and that little something extra that helps the emotions come through. The cinematography by Cristina Dunlap makes good use of a small apartment, making feel like a home and not just a set for the story to take place in. These add to the film something that makes it feel familiar yet unusual, which works with the story and tone of the humor.
Nocturnally Yours is a funny shorts that is dark and twisted, with some seriously messed up ideas that it makes pass for logical in its world and it works. It has some humor that may not be for everyone, but those it’s for will love it. The short boast great writing and talented performances, a few scenes that will make almost anyone squirm, and humor that will surprise audiences.
Philadelphia Unnamed Film Festival 2017 runs from September 28th until October 1st, 2017.