FILM REVIEW ANALYSIS ON "DON'T MOVE"

 Film Analysis Essay: “Don’t Move” (Short Horror)

Directed & Produced by: Anthony Melton & Ben Franklin

Written by: David Scullion

Edited by: Ben Franklin

Cinematography: Jonny Franklin

Music & Sound Design: Robin Schlochtermeier

Visual & Practical Effects: Ben Tillett, Ben Kent, Cliff Wallace (SPFX)

Lighting & Camera Crew: Ionut Apetroae, Ben Kent

Art Direction: Christopher Goodman

Produced Under: Bloody Cuts (with Millennium FX collaboration)

“Don’t Move,” also known simply as “The Summoning,” is a tense horror short directed by Anthony Melton and Ben Franklin, written by David Scullion, and produced by the UK horror collective Bloody Cuts . Despite its under-15-minute runtime, the film sets a chilling tone right away and keeps you engaged through to the end.

The plot centers on a group of friends who use a Ouija board during a normal game night. They accidentally summon a demon that can only detect movement. This forces them to stay still—literally frozen in fear—while the creature hunts them one by one. The clever twist of movement equals death creates gripping suspense and underlines a deeper idea: when fear freezes you, even normal life becomes deadly. The story builds quickly and keeps tension steady until the climax.

The ensemble cast (unnamed in many sources, though credited under Bloody Cuts) work well together. Their fear feels honest and the panic builds naturally. Each character’s reaction to the demon—whether they freeze, try to hide, or freeze up—feels realistic and helps the audience care about them. The relationships appear genuine, making each moment of terror more effective.

Cinematographer Jonny Franklin crafts tight shots and dim lighting to enhance the horror atmosphere. Shadows dominate, framing faces and leaving much to the imagination. The tight framing makes viewers feel confined with the characters, amplifying tension with every slight movement.

The sound design—likely led by Bloody Cuts contributors—uses silence and sudden loud effects to intensify scares. Occasional creaks, whispers, and thumping heartbeats punctuate scenes. Robin Schlochtermeier’s score (if credited similarly to other Bloody Cuts works) subtly underscores the fear without distracting from it. Dialogue is clear and balanced, leaving space for the scores and effects to hit hardest .

As a zero-budget film, "Don’t Move" is very impressive. It nails the fundamentals: a simple but strong concept, believable performances, and skilled technical execution. A Reddit commenter said it’s “pretty promising in terms of technical aspects” even if the storyline could be deeper . But for a horror short, the priority is suspense—and on that front, the film succeeds with flying colors. It meets expectations for tight, atmospheric horror and leaves viewers thinking long after it ends.

“Don’t Move” is a smart, effective short horror film. Driven by a clever premise, solid acting, careful camera work, and sharp sound design, it delivers genuine scares. While the story might be straightforward, its execution makes it memorable. Because of this, it’s highly recommended for fans of horror shorts. There’s nothing unnecessary—every shot, sound, and reaction is built to raise tension until the end.

https://youtu.be/f9jd6lyGvMI?si=OPKNNMv9feVT76lN

Emelia Mawuena Akorli 

BFAMP28041