Short films matter. Vimeo wants you to know it. So do we. That’s why every week we’ll take a look at some of the short film world’s best and brightest. This week, we bring you John Boisen’s & Björn Fävremark’s breathless thriller Let Me Run.
The Plot: A late night run takes a terrifying turn for a young Swedish woman.
Few film genres are as hit or miss as the thriller. When they’re good, they can be unforgettable. When they aren’t, you can’t seem to forget them fast enough. More often than not, the difference is a matter of believability. Simply put, the best thrillers are built around perilous but realistic scenarios. They build tension by dropping authentic characters into those scenarios. And they let that tension boil over by watching those characters wriggle in and out of danger.
The scenario that John Boisen and Björn Fävremark cook up for Let Me Run – a late night run through a park – could not be simpler … or more inherently frightening. Their central character – an intelligent, tough-willed woman – could not feel more authentic. And the tension they wrench from watching her wriggle into potential danger could not be more genuine. Nor could it be any more engrossing.
Boisen and Fävremark waste little time in building that tension. Let Me Run opens with an ominous shot of a dimly lit park. A woman’s voice takes us to the interior of an apartment where said woman is getting ready to go out for her evening run. Her boyfriend lays on the couch watching TV. As they debate whether or not it’s too late for a run, the news reports that a hooded figure has been terrorizing women in the area. They miss the report. The woman heads out. And we’re off to the races.
What follows is a study in cinematic tension. Boisen’s and Fävremark’s tale unfolds in two virtually dialogue-free parts. The first pits the woman on an dreamy jog through empty city streets. It’s fueled by a slick electronic composition from Cari Lekesbusch. Boise and Fävremark combine the music and movement throughout to cast an eerie calm over their story.
Of course, that story takes a frightful turn once our heroine heads into the park. Music gives way to a low, roiling rumble before a perfectly executed jump scare sets Let Me Run on a downward spiral from eerie calm to fevered nightmare. Boise and Fävremark execute the shift with the cunning of seasoned professionals, allowing the film’s stunning visuals and sound design to bolster the tonal shifts. As for the terror, well, Karin Lycke’s panicked face and expressive body language bring more to the mix than words possibly could. Those elements combined make for a layered, unnerving cinematic experience. And they make Let Me Run a first-rate thriller to boot.
Meet The Crew:
Written & Directed by: John Boisen & Björn Fävremark Starring: Karin Lycke, Jesper Söderblom, Linus Engvall Director of Photography: Hans Johansson Music by: Cari Lekebusch
I hope you enjoy Let Me Run! The film spent last year thrilling audiences on the European festival circuit. It even took home the grand prize at London’s Frame Film Festival. That’s the sort of notice that gets people talking about future projects for any filmmaker. Not surprisingly, Boisen and Fävremark have been hard at work since releasing Let Me Run on the world, producing and directing a series of shorts through their production company Is This It. You can check out some of that work by visiting their Vimeo page.
While you’re kicking about, be sure to check out a few of the thousands of the other short films – animated, live action and documentary – their team has curated for your viewing pleasure (via desktop or mobile device – SWEET!). You’re sure to find something interesting. And you may just stumble across the next great filmmaker.
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