Don't Close Your Eyes, Don't Try to Hide: Missing in the Mansion Short

We're going to close out this year with a truly unique find. My sister, a connoisseur of neat indie/horror/artsy films and the such, found this gem on firstshowing.net, where she frequents for trailers and the like.

What seems to be a romantic trip to Disneyland becomes much more when a couple and friend head to the Haunted Mansion, after hearing of an urban legend of it being really, honest and truly, haunted. Shot on location, with real cast members and real park-attendees, the film follows the three into the ride where they suddenly and inexplicably experience horrifying and frightening events, culminating in the found footage on a camcorder, and nothing else.

What makes Missing in the Mansion successful is the rawness of the quality, and the very well-done foley work. As a student film, it doesn't have ILM's prowess (though as of writing, Lucas Arts was bought by Disney for a hefty 4 billion sum, making Disney owner of ILM, Lucas Arts, Skywalker Sound, AND Pixar and Marvel), nor are its special effects completely and utterly Cloverfield mind-blowing. But the production values are actually damned well done, so well done in fact that though it is not officially affiliated with Disney itself, it must have some small cooperation with it (the cut off intro of the main character videoing himself for what seems to be an interview FOR said company), or at least a small blessing.

Additionally, the build up and the effects of the video are appropriately done for the ride as well as the mood. Its ending doesn't lead up to a massive, all-out Paranormal Activity ending; it actually stops just short of being frightening and brings it down to Disney's appropriate standards. If this was the approach the Haunted Mansion movie had taken, it might have been way more successful.

The actors feel honest, and real, and Jess, played by Lisa Livesay, is not only extremely cute but also beautiful and really, really great. Her fiancee Scott, played by Nathan Bell, also is just as good. Scott, like Micah in Paranormal Activity, falls prey to the deadly horror movie sin of taunting the spirit inside the mansion, and predictably will pay for it. Which goes to show you: respect the spirit or the will bust a cap so hard up your ass, they will take everyone else around you with you.

In short, the short film is completely and utterly successful as a handy-cam horror student film (and really, I think at this point, film students are the only ones who can do it so honestly), and if its an entry for the makers to get into Disney as Imagineers or filmmakers/animators, then all the more power to them.

And now, without further ado, here's Missing in the Mansion

Hoping your halloween is a bit less stressful than that but just as fun, from all of us at Random Lunacy, Happy Halloween, and goodnight. :3

By Dio (10/31/12)

All work belongs to Josh andJeremiah Daws and Reza Lackey.