It’s February. Even though it’s past Valentines Day, it’s still fitting to talk about one of the darker love stories put to film.
Today, we’ll be talking about the animated horror short “Death and the Winemaker” by Victor Jaquier. 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 a script ready for the next Killer Shorts Horror Short Screenplay Competition.
The Plot
A young winemaker in the Victorian era is trying to win the permission of a wealthy man to marry his daughter, Mathilde. He is told that to have her hand in marriage, he would need to have an impartial source confirm that his wine is the best in the world. Soon, the winemaker gets an offer from the most impartial being there is: Death herself.
But Death makes the mistake of telling the winemaker that Mathilde is soon to die. So the winemaker tricks Death, and traps her in a barrel. The winemaker and Mathilde are able to live a long happy life together. But what are the consequences to trapping Death? And, worst of all, what are the consequences of finally setting her free?
The Best Wine in the World
“Death and the Winemaker” is a dark morality tale, where even the innocent pay the price for others’ sins. This morality/fairy tale vibe is established early on when we see that this movie is framed as a plague doctor telling a tale to a young child about the cause of a catastrophic pandemic. At its core, it’s the story of a man who disrupts the very course of nature and the entire world pays the price.
This story is helped by excellent animation and an artstyle that is whimsical when it needs to be, and dark and creepy at other times. The figure of Death is a very disturbing presence. Everything from her creepy appearance, to her haunting voice, and unsettling movements help to sell her as a powerful force to fear.
But it’s also an interesting love story. The story of a foolish man who was willing to do anything for the love of his life, and, in the process, unleashed a plague upon the nation.
In Conclusion
“Death and the Winemaker” is a horrific fairy tale with a bleak and hopeless ending. Yet another reminder to never play God.
Watch it below.
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