Before Kyle Edward Ball burst onto the indie filmmaking scene as the writer and director ofSkinamarink, he specialized in creating frightening short films for a small but fervent online community. He launched theYouTube channel Bitesized Nightmares in 2015and based his shorts on actual nightmares submitted by his followers. It’s a treasure trove for fans of liminal and experimental horror. It’s also an insightful window into the evolution of a unique filmmaker where Ball is essentially cutting his teeth and honing a complicated style.
One short that stands out isHeck, and Official Selection at the Videoscream International Film Festival 2020. It feels like a prequel forSkinamarink, andWikipedia confirms that Ball created it as a proof of conceptfor what he hoped would be a longer cinematic endeavor. Those who may be curious aboutSkinamarink, intrigued by its buzz but concerned by its polarizing reception, are advised to giveHecka spin before biting the bullet. On the flip side, those who have seenSkinamarinkshould be just as keen to exploreHeckas it holds many keys to both understanding and appreciating Ball’s debut feature film.
Related:Skinamarink: Why Liminal Horror May Be the Perfect Subgenre For the Times
Heckis a slimmed down version ofSkinamarink, in both its runtime and its world-building. There’s only one child (as opposed to a pair of siblings) and one parent (as opposed to a seemingly dysfunctional couple). This makes the delivery and execution sharper and, in many ways, more poignant. While important scenes and themes developed inSkinamarinkdon’t exist, what we do see feels somehow more tangible and therefore terrifying. Still, it’s difficult to regardHeckas something independent ofSkinamarink, something in and of itself. Though unique, the two films essentially feel like one creating a genuinely enhanced experience.
Why It’s Valuable to Watch Heck Before Seeing Skinamarink
The main reason horror fans should seeHeckbefore plunging intoSkinamarinkis to make sure they’re receptive to the style. The most controversial aspect ofSkinamarinkis unquestionably its delivery. It hasa found footage aesthetic despite taking an omniscient storytelling approach. Most of the action takes place off-screen with the camera focusing on walls, ceilings, dark corners, and ominous hallways. Though recorded digitally,HeckandSkinamarinkuse filters to create an aged, filmic effect that enhances the organic darkness. There is a lot viewers don’t see because they can’t see; the resolution simply won’t allow it. All this on top of a soundscape buzzing with static and muffled, disembodied voices. Frankly, it’s no walk in the park.
If IMDB analytics are any indication, about half of those who seeHeckwill decide it’s not their cup of tea, which is fine. They’ve only lost 28 minutes instead of 100 minutes (the full runtime ofSkinamarink). Those who find themselves intrigued byHeck, on the other hand, will now be primed to dive into the often oppressive darkness ofSkinamarink. They’ll be better equipped, arguably, as time won’t be lost acclimating to Ball’s captivating though objectively challenging approach. Those seeingSkinamarinkblind may struggle to imagine the immensity of what’s being presented, but those who have seenHeckwill have a notion regarding how deep this rabbit hole goes.
All said it’s important to note that watchingHeckwill not “spoil” the experience of seeingSkinamarink. It will certainly hit differently, butSkinamarinkis a much deeper, more involved experience. There will still be plenty of surprises.
Why It’s Valuable to Watch Heck After Seeing Skinamarink
Heckis notSkinamarinkandSkinamarinkis notHeck. They are unique. But, as previously mentioned, they are somehow, inexplicably, the same. The unnamed boy inHeckcould very well be Kevin fromSkinamarink.Heckmay very well have been filmed in the same house asSkinamarink. Viewers may see the same tape recorder, Legos, and television set. (Sadly, or thankfully, the Fisher-Price Chatter Phone doesn’t make a cameo.) It’s more than just closely related, makingHecka key to deciphering Skinamarink’s most perplexing riddles.
There are hints of death inSkinamarink, but it’s much more explicit inHeck, validating interpretations suggesting Kevin and Kaylee are trapped in Limbo—or worse.The seemingly random cartoon playing throughoutSkinamarinkare confirmed to have great symbolic parallels to the action unfolding. The strange chronologies ofSkinamarinkare amplified inHeck, where we see the passage of time marked in “sleeps” instead of “days.” WhereasSkinamarinkimplies that the torture endured by the siblings may be infinite,Heckconfirms it.
Skinamarinkis a heavily liminal horror experience, one that sends viewers’ eyes darting into dark corners in the hopes of identifying potential threats, not to mention clues to explain these strange experiences.Heckhas additional dark spaces to explore along with different perspectives and new clues. The bottles of alcohol behind a box of Corn Flakes, for example, seem to confirm a family dysfunction that’s left completely nebulous inSkinamarink.
Pieces of the Same Puzzle
Skinamarinkis, objectively, a challenging cinematic experience, one destined to have a divisive legacy.Heck, while less than a third the length, is no cakewalk either. Both represent a deliberately challenging method of storytelling that simply won’t resonate with everyone. But just as those curious aboutSkinamarinkmay be tantalized byHeck, those with unanswered questions regardingSkinamarinkmay find the answers they’re looking for by exploring its predecessor.You can watchHecknow, along with dozens of other nightmarish shorts, on the Bitesized Horror YouTube page.
