115

Many of us have dating horror stories, especially when it comes to dating apps. Swiping right can often lead to all kinds of wrong; such is the case in the short film 115, written and directed by brothers André Gogola and Vito Gogola. New to Sweden, Benji (Philip Juhlin) is a lonely American looking for a good time. After matching with the beautiful Erika (Agnes Sandberg), he’s hopeful for a promising date with the girl of his dreams. Unfortunately, what unfolds is a nightmare.

Erika’s dating profile simply says, “115.” Intrigued, Benji asks her what it means. Erika, flirting, she’ll tell him when they meet up in person. He shows up at a sketchy abandoned building and finds the enticing lady awaiting him. She proposes that they play a game of “Marco Polo.” If Benji can find Erika, she’ll go on a date with him. What starts out as cute and mysterious quickly becomes a more sinister and deadly game of cat and mouse.

“If Benji can find Erika, she’ll go on a date with him.”

115 is a tightly wound horror film. It gives you enough information about the protagonist and presents a seductive villain that both men and women can’t fault Benji for falling for. The film could function as the opening to a feature-length film that would captivate audiences right out of the gate. But it still works as a self-contained short in its own right. There’s enough mystery and lore that could be explored well over 90 minutes, yet nothing feels dangling by the end.

With elements of Under The Skin, Jennifer’s Body, and It Follows, the film offers a fresh look at the modern dating scene without feeling out of touch or preachy. 115 achieves a feat that most modern horror fails at: it takes itself seriously yet maintains a sense of fun without compromising the tone. The strength is the mystery of who or what Erika is. The reveal in the final moments may have shown too much, teetering on being silly. However, the tension and mystery are still riding high at the moment, so nothing the impact is hardly hindered. I highly recommend this one.