Written By: Ryan Dailey
This review started as a single review for “The Cult Leader,” and turned into so much more. That is due in large part because the works of Nate Thompson are also so much more. His complete current works run over twenty minutes roughly and the films are more entertaining and surprisingly more well-written than a vast majority of current big screen, full-length horror offerings. The viewer can feel this man’s love for the craft of making films and his firm understanding on what makes horror work.
understanding on what makes horror work.
“The Cult Leader” is a typical “friends hang out and get killed” affair, but Nate puts a unique twist on it. He chooses to make his protagonist a cult leader as opposed to your standard, generic masked psychopath. I find the subject matter a great choice, as it has kind of taken a back seat to other genres of horror, almost becoming a sub-genre. Racheal, Vinnie and Colton, played spectacularly by Halle Rose, Brandon Gee and Jeremiah Goldmain, respectfully, settle in for a night of booze, movies and cereal. That is, until the Cult Leader, played by Nate Thompson picks them off one by one. The dialog is written exceptionally well, further proving this group of filmmakers have the chops to entertain the audience. The mask the Cult Leader wears has the potential to hang next to the mask of Jason Voorhees or Michael Myers on the walls of your nightmares.
“Cult Affairs” takes place in the same universe, giving us a glimpse into the mind and the face under the mask. The Cult leader has Mister James (Nygel Sejismundo) bound to a chair as the Cult Leader (Nate Thompson) explains his motives. You feel Mister James’ anxiety through Nygel’s performance. Much like his other shorts, this one is short on gore, forcing you to fill in the blanks, which is such a lost art in this day and age.
Nate also has posted film clips onto his Youtube channel, which are amazing little snippets into his talent behind and in front of the camera.
“Isolation” is a great clip that showcases Thompson’s uncanny ability to frame a shot, edit cuts and track and focus in various, creative ways.
“The Statue” is a simple camera pan from the base of a statue of an Odalisca (concubine). While the camera movement is very simple, there is still majesty there,
When visiting his Youtube channel, check out his tips on editing photos, his commercial and music video work. To round out his portfolio, he even has full wrestling matches that he filmed for Insane Wrestling Revolution.
Get this young filmmaker into Hollywood ASAP and be sure to check out the upcoming premiere of the “noir” version of “Cult Affairs,” only on the Nate Thompson Youtube channel.