Written by Tyson Hanks and director Joel G. Robertson, The One Who Waits Below is a creepy mystery short. In it, a scavenger named Dewey Shawn (Dewey Shawn; not a typo) takes a job to retrieve an odd box, though what is inside he knows not. Dewey visits a lady who collects buttons (Ami Sallee), as it is known she possessed the box at one point. She doesn’t have it, but sends Dewey to a different location to make a trade. However, the cost of this new mission is higher than anyone could imagine.
A tense exchange takes place outside an RV in this scene from The One Who Waits Below.
“…sends Dewey to a different location to make a trade. However, the cost of this new mission is higher than anyone could imagine.”
This 21-minute film begins as a mystery but transitions seamlessly into something creepy and horrific as it keeps going. The atmosphere builds with uneasy tension, gripping viewers with its deft genre-swapping and simple world-building. The editing establishes the day in, day out monotony of the lead’s life, while never being dull. Shawn, possibly playing a version of himself, is easy to root for. The make-up effects in the latter half of the movie look very good.
The One Who Waits Below offers up a creepy little mystery. It is solidly directed, well acted, and is a fun window into this strange little world. Another story in this eerie universe would be most welcome.
"…a creepy little mystery."
