FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 13, 2022
Director Freddie Jarrett’s Indie Thriller Short Film “Cicada” Examines Our Obsession with the Perfection of Social Media Versus Real Life Expectations at a Cottage in the Woods
Orlando, FL - In the short horror film “Cicada”, a young couple gets more than what they anticipated at a secluded romantic getaway in the woods. When an invisible foreign presence attacks them throughout the night, they realize that the glowing reviews and ratings they saw online aren’t exactly correct. Lead actress Roxy Rivera and director/producer/writer/actor Freddie Jarrett convey the terror and fear that arises when they are held hostage to the ratings and approval of others. The tense moments scored by Kathleen Enriquez and Bernard Kyer’s cicada sound design keep the viewer stuck in determining what is real. With minimalist dialogue and creepy cuts, Jarrett’s screenplay will have you trapped in the terror and despair, unable to escape the nightmare.
While traveling to an Airbnb in the woods, Jarrett was curious about how a UFO sighting might be perceived in 2021. His story took form as he connected the problems that arise when we become accustomed to our obsessions with perfection and reject anything that doesn’t fit our narrative. Jarrett explores how our reliance on social media keeps us stuck with unrealistic expectations and stunts our ability to adapt to change. In the end, the couple leaves the cottage and recommends the place to others because they aren’t ready to admit the terror they faced, resulting in the cycle doomed to repeat again.
Originally created for The Orlando Independent Filmmakers (OIF) Chaos Challenge, Jarrett’s film “Cicada” is currently on the festival circuit for the next few months. The film has already received an Honorable Mention at the ATX Short Film Showcase, Best Sound Design at the Thrills and Chills Film Awards, and Best Sci-Fi at the KINGS CROSS FILM AWARDS. Jarrett is an accomplished director, producer, writer, and actor who has received a total of 9 awards for his three short films (“Cicada”, “Woke”, and “The Girl with the Pumpkin”) and has starred in over 36 short films and feature-length films.
###
For more information or to conduct an interview, please contact Freddie Jarrett at 321-745-5072 or email mr.freddiej1@gmail.com.
Film Freeway: filmfreeway.com/afilmbyfreddie
IMDB: imdb.com/name/nm9021283/?ref_=tt_ov_dr
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mr_freddiej/
YouTube: youtube.com/channel/UCtM1kUq2L842Y3YYBy7MTHQ
Cicada is a 2022 short horror film directed by Freddie Jarrett who also wrote the script. It is a confidently made genre flick.
It follows a young couple who go to a secluded romantic getaway in a cottage that has glowing reviews and ratings online. However, a perfect night quickly turns into a nightmare as they are attacked by an invisible demonic spirit of sorts and they cannot escape it. Eventually, the two leave the cottage seemingly happy in spite of what happened to them and ending up recommending the place to others on the Internet as well.
The film isn’t just a regular horror short, but it offers a deeper metaphor about the seemingly inescapable reality of online recommendations and ratings system that leaves most people hostage to it. The movie is creepy and very well executed in its scenes of terror that are further elevated by strong acting from its two leads, but what it says about our current obsession with ratings says a lot.
Cicada is also aptly titled as the sound of cicadas and crickets fulfill many moments here. The idyllic cottage is very well shot and the film is well directed and superbly scripted in particular as Jarrett’s screenplay with minimalist dialogue is thematically intriguing, but never forgetting to be scary as is expected of horror stories.
As a result, Cicada is a very successful indie short that benefits from a strong atmosphere of terror and despair that are further complemented by an interesting central metaphor and excellent technical aspects. It’s a very original short indeed.
No comments:
Post a Comment