Yellow
Alternative Titles: N/A
Director: Ryan Haysom
Year: 2012
Starring: Hester Arden, Stephen M. Gilbert, Rocco Menzel.
Context:
A festival hit, Yellow is one of those rare things - a successful film that came though a crowdfunding source, living up to the expectations of backers and genre fans alike. Made as a love note to the genre itself, the passion the film makers have is unmistakable with the use of lighting and a neon lit Berlin showcasing that they understood not just the genre but artistic inspirations behind it and how it places in the wider context. Featuring a largely unknown cast and helmed by a British director living in Germany taking on one of the most Italian of genres it is a testament to all involved that three years later Arrow Video would include the short on their release of Bava's Blood and Black Lace.
Synopsis:
An old man is on the hunt for a vicious serial-killer of women who is committing a series of gruesome murders across neon-lit 1980s Berlin.
Review:
Arriving arguably in the midst of a neo-gialli revolution, but one where many of these films merely incorporate artistic cues and imagery from the 70s giallo heyday in their arthouse (Amer) or diversified (Berberian Sound Studio) offerings as opposed to replicating the genres conventions, Ryan Haysom’s short film ‘Yellow’ takes more of a direct influence than its peers as it attempts to carve some sort of genuine mystery into its narrative as well as the expected genre tropes; leather gloves, razor blades and of course, some J&B Whiskey.
Being a short film the story s relatively direct, we follow an unnamed older man (Stephen Gilbert) hunting down a vicious serial killer across a gorgeously lit 1980's Berlin in a bid to halt the violence. Told nothing of his back-story or his life, we only know the killer is in contact with him as they play their game of cat and mouse as one torments the other. Of special interest to horror fans is the man behind the special makeup effects, a certain Olaf Ittenbach, famed for directing Premutos and The Burning Moon and his Fx work on Seed amongst others, this is a man who knows horror and I pleased to expand on this to say that this is a film created by those who know horror, but anyway, back to the Fx and you will be pleased that Olaf's work does not disappoint here, as eye’s get slashed and teeth smashed as Haysom shows that he is fully prepared to show the brutality of the genre as well as the beauty.
Also worthy of individual note also is the effective score by Anton Maoivvi, which exudes a fitting and strong 80’s vibe coming off like a sharper version of the recent Maniac remake with a hint of Simonetti et al.’s Tenebrae , the effect of which perfectly complements the visual power of the film and Berlin in general. Congruent with this is the overall tone of the film, a juxtaposition of gloom and neon lit action, with this being expertly achieved through the limited dialogue and the DP’s use of light, the many night time shots lend a bleak almost despairing feel yet the urgency of the lead character's quest breathes with a frantic pace and the viewer cannot help but be sucked into this world of a mysterious black gloved killer.
The only negative from this short, and I am being picky here, is that plot revelation or twist if you prefer, will be familiar to many with an interest in euro-horror and reminded me in particular of one French film which will remain nameless, however, that is a minor gripe in a visually stunning and fantastic short film.
Despite being filmed by a Brit in Germany, this film exudes Italian style and influence throughout and that extends past the film itself, check out the New York Ripper-esque poster designed by horror art legend Graham Humphreys, and is certain to please both giallo and more general horror fans alike.