Full Horror Short Film & Review: “Backstroke” by Robbie Barclay

You can’t see what’s below the surface

Here I review and provide link to the full short horror film by Robbie Barclay, called “Backstroke” currently hosted by ALTER horror channel on YouTube (and also on Vimeo) so that it’s free to watch for everyone!

Full Horror Short Film:

URL: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3_DQmfFjTlU

Vimeo:

Vimeo URL: https://vimeo.com/213754792

My thoughts (Short review):

Imagine a love story of a rebellious girl running away with her lover in a car but with a horror twist in the end. The story starts in an obvious manner but when the car stops in the woods, our leading lady tries to play some game with her lover which is when she discovers a lake and decides to take a dive in it.

The forest appears quiet and they both seem the only people there. Without any direction of where to go and with no goal, the uneasiness quickly starts emerging in mind and then all of a sudden she sees a stranger who is observing her while she is swimming in the lake. Who is he, and what does he want?

The short story is made well, with good attention to the cinematography, audio, production value, and sound. Acting of the leading lady is effective, and the stranger’s acting is playful as it should be. The lover boy has limited screen time but the performance is good. Editing is nice and while the ending needs some thinking for figuring out, it’s more of a twist with a hidden message than a cliffhanger. So, the short film ends on a high note.

Overall, free to watch on YouTube, ALTER platform has received yet another sweet and short story that definitely tells us why stopping in the woods is never a good idea. Filled with a creepy twist in the end, and production value that feels similar to the Hollywood standards, this is a horror film that you should definitely watch.

More About Backstroke:

Two runaway teens steal a car with dreams of heading down to Florida, but things take a dark turn after a dangerous game.

Awards: Vimeo Staff Pick, Short of the Week

Connect with Robbie Barclay:

Website: www.robbiebarclay.com

Follow Robbie Barclay on Instagram: @barclayrobbie

Vimeo: https://vimeo.com/robbiebarclay

About ALTER:

The most provocative minds in horror bring you three new short films every week exploring the human condition through warped and uncanny perspectives. Be ready to leave the world you know behind and subscribe. Once you watch, you are forever ALTERed.