One of the most controversial aspects of the criminal justice system is the use of the death penalty. Some argue that it’s necessary for the worst criminals, while others say that it goes too far. Well, today’s short presents us with an alternative that both sides can agree is too far.
We’ll be talking about the horror short, “The Disappearance of Willie Bingham,” by Matt Richards. It is now streaming on Alter’s YouTube channel, and you can also watch it at the end of this article. It might inspire you to get your own script ready for the current Killer Shorts Horror Short Screenplay Competition.
The Plot
Willie Bingham is convicted of a horrific crime. Instead of traditional punishment, he is made patient zero for an experimental new procedure. He is to have multiple surgeries to have parts of his body removed, and periodically set to visit high schools to scare the students away from crime. And with every amputation, he loses more and more of what makes him human.
Kevin Dee as Willie Bingham in “The Disappearance of Willie Bingham”
Crime and Punishment
This short is a critique on capital punishment. It takes people’s darkest and angriest thoughts of what to do with the worst criminals, and throws them back in their faces. Though the most gruesome parts of the amputations are mostly off-screen, it revels in the horror of his life afterwards. Losing parts of himself, and having to show off his stumps to apathetic children, who sometimes openly mock him. And have things get even worse from then on.
It isn’t until about halfway through when we find out the specifically what his crime was, and despite how horrible it is, it is still difficult to say that this is what he deserves. And at least part of that is from the character himself. He is played by Kevin Dee, who is convincing as a remorseful man going through a fate worse than death.
What Makes It Killer?
“The Disappearance of Willie Bingham” is a very disturbing look at the justice system. It can be hard to watch with how dark and depressing it can get, but it still offers a deep dive into a government-ordered fate worse than death.
Watch it below.
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