Pylon

In Barnaby Blackburn’s short film Pylon, a young boy and his sister wander through a sunlit field on a quiet summer day. Their peaceful walk takes a dark turn when they encounter a group of older boys. The gang, led by a bully, confronts the siblings, demanding to know why they are avoiding them.

The bully challenges the young boy’s “manhood” by insisting that he climb up an enormous electrical pylon. As the boy begins his assent, his sister runs home to fetch her mother. This can not end well.

The situation spirals as the bully seizes control, orchestrating a dangerous challenge to assert dominance. He directs the boy to climb a towering electricity pylon, an act fraught with peril. With the towering steel structure looming overhead and emotions running high, the incident sets off devastating consequences.

“The bully challenges the young boy’s ‘manhood’ by insisting that he climb up an enormous electrical pylon.”

Barnaby Blackburn’s Pylon explores the intricate dynamics of sibling bonds, the cruelty of peer pressure, and the lasting scars of traumatic events. Against the backdrop of a field and the imposing pylon, the story unfolds with heartbreaking intensity, revealing the vulnerabilities of childhood and the harsh realities of growing up.

Filmmaker Barnaby Blackburn brings a unique perspective to the bully problem. Pylon taps into the hyper-sensitive world of young masculinity. For the bully, it’s the need to use aggression to control and manipulate his gang and those they come in contact with. For the young boy, he cannot be bullied for the rest of his life. Instead of standing up for himself, he submits to the bully’s dangerous offer.

Writer/director Blackburn nails the film’s tone. From the start, the violin sounds set an uneasy tone in what should be a leisurely walk for two children. The danger just builds from there, ending with a one-shot of the girl running home to her mother. You feel every moment of the situation.

Pylon is a poignant and unsettling examination of the tense dynamics between childhood innocence and conformity. Barnaby Blackburn’s narrative grips you with its haunting portrayal of vulnerability and cruelty. It’s a masterclass in building tension through storytelling and how small moments carry immense weight.