Every culture has its beliefs and superstitions. Though they might not completely believe in them, many people are still willing to do anything to keep the demons away.
Because, well, what would happen if they didn’t?
This is the idea behind the folk horror short “Bakemono”, by Sumire Takamatsu and Jorge Lucas, now streaming on Alter’s YouTube channel, and you can also watch it at the end of this article. It might inspire you to submit to the next Killer Shorts Horror Short Screenplay Competition.
The Plot
“In Japanese culture, the day before spring is called Setsubun. For over a thousand years, it has been tradition to throw soybeans to summon good luck and cast out evil spirits.”
This text appears at the beginning of this short, before we join a Japanese-American family at dinner on Setsubun. Young daughter, Ayumi, refuses to eat the rest of her food, and her mother tells her that if she doesn’t finish her dinner a hungry demon called a Bakemono will come to eat it. But that only makes Ayumi sympathize with the Bakemono, and when her parents go to bed, she tries to attract one to feed it. And of course summoning demons rarely goes well, especially in horror movies.
Never Let Them In
Despite the fact that the main character is rebelling against her culture’s traditions, her heart seems to be in the right place, making her still a sympathetic character. After all it’s not uncommon for little kids to be this naiive. All this makes for a more intense experience.
There is a great atmosphere and a creeping sense of doom, even though Ayumi doesn’t realize that she’s in danger. The Bakemono is a frightening presence, and particularly in the final scene showing Ayumi’s possessed body the next morning. Although I think it was wrong of Alter to put the possessed girl’s face in the the thumbnail, when the film tries to build up to that reveal.
And in the end, the movie makes sure you feel bad not only for the kid, but also for the parents who are left by themselves in a haunting final shot. These parents didn’t appear to see this as an actual threat in the beginning, even to the point of threatening to not let Ayumi throw the soybeans. And now the whole family paid the price for not taking this tradition seriously enough.
Conclusion
“Bakemono” is a typical story of the boogeyman coming for kids who don’t listen to their parents, but rooted in actual Japanese folklore. This amounts to a scary horror short, which will terrify even those who know nothing about this folklore.
Watch it below.
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