Writer/director Adam Lapallo takes tree trimming to new horrific heights in his supernatural short Wisteria. A wisteria tree has grown out of control and begun to physically engulf the childhood home of the D’Albero children. Kai D’Albero (Seleste Cowie) begrudgingly hacks away at the branches that have crept up the side of the house. Meanwhile, inside, her siblings Josh (Christopher Glick) and Abigail (Ashley Thompson) are busy preparing for the resale of their deceased mother’s home.
Upon noticing some strange artwork in red on the back of a bookshelf, Kai is weary that a dark presence is lurking in the house. She questions her siblings about what she has seen and felt, resulting in underwhelming responses. Is there really something strange penetrating the home, or is Kai’s mind playing tricks?
“Kai is weary that a dark presence is lurking in the house…”
When I was young, I remember watching the miniseries adaptation of Stephen King’s Red Rose on television. Since then, the idea of a house becoming supernaturally self-aware has always lingered in the back of my mind. Wisteria conjures up a familiar haunted house aura along with a thought-provoking family plot.
One moment, Kai and Josh are alone and temper their feud for a brother and sister “heart to heart” in discussing their deceased mother. Like the tree that Wisteria references for its title, I could see a longer and more elaborate plot take root and grow from the fifteen minutes presented here. A haunted house and family tension make for a wicked combo.
"…takes tree trimming to new horrific heights..."
