Synopsis:
After being sent a strange song, an unsuspecting woman is terrorized by Amdusias, a demon that gets more and more violent the longer the song plays.
If I had a quarter for every horror short I have seen that was filmed in someone’s bedroom, I would probably have enough cash for a couple of beers and some change. That said, our bedrooms are where all of our original fears and nightmares began; the pile of clothing on the chair that transforms into unspeakable horrors in the darkest hours of the night, that shadow cast from the window that creates shapes that could only be from hell itself. Our imaginative childhood minds create some truly dreadful incomprehensibilities.
Amdusias is a short horror film written by Rubel Rafael Ahmed and Natasha Mohamad and directed by Rubel Rafael Ahmed. The film stars Ayvianna Snow as Dani, Gary Marston as Amdusias, and Phoebe Kennard as Ana. The film went from production to completion in under a week during the Covid 19 lockdowns and is based on the legends surrounding the titular demon.
Amdusias is pretty much the standard fare when it comes to horror short films produced in 2020. With little to do, festivals cancelled, crew in quarantine and creatives going slowly stir-crazy, some filmmakers have really had to transcend the traditional methodologies and tap into some serious creative juices. Ahmed does just that by crafting an atmospheric horror with an acceptable production value shot all in one cramped location. While low on budget and little in the way of cast, Amdusias managed to be both entertaining and haunting. I’m a sucker for demons and devils so a little personal bias may have slipped in here or there but I was genuinely captivated from start to finish.
The acting is solid and the technical aspects are professional. It is well-edited and builds with good pace towards its somewhat unconventional end. I, unfortunately, cannot award any points for originality, hidden themes & narratives, or groundbreaking content. Amdusias is just a good indie horror short born out of Covid’s consequences and is worthy of a watch. I did do a little digging and found out that Amdusias is an official demon of the Ars Goetia, so that was a neat little treat. Thanks for reading and as always, stay sordid. Amdusias is already out and is available to watch for free on YouTube at the following link. Thanks for reading and as always, stay sordid.
