Nato – Pieces Of Talent
If you want to take a gamble on independent horror, then every November you should be in the city that never sleeps for the New York City Horror Film Festival. I won’t sugar coat anything, some of the films are very hit and miss, but when you do find that under-the-radar sleeper, it really gets the blood flowing. This year had a slew of really phenomenal films thankfully, from more Tromafied fun to a “sexy” IFC Midnight thriller, but a film that really stuck with me was Joe Stauffer’s Pieces Of Talent. It’s a sick look at obsession and loneliness that also has a creepy slasher plot tying everything together, showing a ton of poise and style from Stauffer himself.
While Joe sets up perfect shots behind the camera, his on-screen talent also brings plenty of life to this film shoot gone wrong. Young Kirsti Ray plays our lead character Charlotte, a struggling actress looking for her next big break, while David Long plays the man willing to give Charlotte her big break – with the worst of intentions. We watch as Charlotte is drawn into David’s trap like a moth to light, all the while seeing David’s twisted morality start to take over. You fear for Charlotte, but can also sense her independent strength, leading us to believe David might have his work cut out for him. Then the tables turn and David’s true form is revealed, and all of a sudden the monster emerges, and we ONLY fear for Charlotte’s life. What a transformation.
Unlike most of the other films I caught at the festival, Pieces Of Talent is available for you to watch right now through Vimeo, and I highly recommend supporting this indie horror hit. Comes with my seal of approval and all!