Nightcap is the first film from writer-director Cody MacDonald. The 6-minute, 15-second short begins with Gus (Michael Lake) entering a hotel after traveling most of the night. The man puts his bag down and quickly talks to his fiance, Liza (Gabby Rodriguez), to let her know he made it safely. Gus tries to get some sleep but is restless, and he keeps seeing a shadowy figure throughout the hotel room.
“…he keeps seeing a shadowy figure throughout the hotel room.”
MacDonald opens his first short with the camera lingering on the door for a second or so before Gus enters. It’s long enough to be slightly odd but not entirely uncomfortable. However, the fly-on-the-wall feel audiences get watching Gus practice a few potential answers in the mirror is unsettling. Whatever it is he sees while trying to sleep, real or imagined, elevates that uneasiness even further. The ending perfectly encapsulates that real or not tension in a shocking way. None of this would work without Lake, who is affable enough to like but also awkward enough not to necessarily be the most reliable of protagonists.
Nightcap is a compelling little short. MacDonald shows promise in his inaugural outing, and Lake delivers a captivating performance. Now, if only something could be done about the basic lighting, which does not help maintain the atmosphere.
"…compelling..."
