The Horror Show
They Watch
by Peter Dukes
Independent horror has always been a very interesting genre that has given us fans many moments of joy and the film industry several gems. With that in mind, one should never snub or ignore the work of a promising and independent filmmaker. So this time, Horror Metal Sounds takes a good look into Peter Dukes’ pieces of work under the umbrella of Dream Seekers Productions.
Peter Dukes seems to like using the black and white technique in his films and it certainly gives an eerie flair to the final product. Such a film is his supernatural horror They Watch, a short film with a rather common story, but at the same time, one that hides important life lessons.
The story follows Marcus (Greg Travis), a sick man confined to bed by a fatal illness that consumes him day by day. Sensing that his time has come, Marcus decides to leave a revealing video message about his past only to have his recording disrupted by an old acquaintance, Victor (John Michael Herndon).
His threatening and confident veneer makes a strong contrast with Marcus’ ailing figure, who is clearly not happy about the visit, as Victor’s presence brings back haunting memories.
It becomes clear that Marcus and Victor share a dark secret; a secret that has been eating the two men alive and one that Marcus was never able to forget.
The personal demons that have been haunting the sick man’s mind all these years finally take form and begin to haunt his room as well. A dark ghost of a woman torments the dying man in front of Victor’s eyes, who seems to be next.
Dukes’ short film is an eerie and macabre metaphor of how torturing one’s secrets can be and how brutally they’ll finally consume them. To conclude, besides the obvious, They Watch is an interesting film about the past that is always present.
Maria Kriva, HMS
The Horror Show Menu.