Oliver Park’s fantastic horror short “Vicious” represents something a little more than just a well done foray into one woman’s nightmare, it represents a new voice in horror. Half night-terror, half cat-and-mouse, “Vicious follows one woman as she is assailed by horror after horror in house that seemingly preys on our every worst fear. The concept is familiar, yes, but the execution is nothing short of a perfect playbook exercise of how to do horror right. “Vicious”‘ scope isn’t limited by its premise. In fact, its a short that hints at a bigger story and has its audience wanting ti explore that possibility instead of shaking their heads at how it would play out when accompanies by two more acts were it a feature. It is Park’s deft, tonally conscious vision that literally makes every second of the short’s running time drip with a sense of dread and ominosity. There is no shortage of jump-out-of-your-seat scares here and that’s appropriate because from the first frame you’re already on the edge of that soon to be abandoned couch cushion. Park’s represents a welcome addition to the genre and this reviewer is highly anticipating his next outing.
