'ALL SKIN NO LAUGH' Review: A Nightmare To Awake To

All Skin No Laugh is a pore-raising Trinidadian short film that elevates horror in less than twenty minutes. It pulls you in to trap you in a dark corner of a waking nightmare to haunt you through imagery, sound, and even the echoes of your thoughts. The short does not scare anyone for the sake of shock value, it tells an effective story with themes of trust and respect, depicting the tragedy that unfolds when they are gone.

The short film is about an encounter between a young man and a beautiful young lady on the heels of an emergency, after a secret is revealed at a terrible time, a bigger emergency transpires in this tale of terror at night.

The directors Israel Silva and Romario Reyes wrote the script alongside Valdir Silva and Mary-Rebekah Reyes, the latter also produced the short with Daddy Gramps Red Productions and Liquid Matter Studios. Local artists Reuel Warner and Isabel Bacallao star as Omari and Amaya respectively, while Mary-Rebekah, Kern Salandy, and Agnelia Reyes make up the nameless supporting cast.

It’s Dark Outside… And Inside

All Skin No Laugh starts on a horror movie trope where Omari(Warner) is home alone on a rainy night and is paid a visit by the attractive young lady Amaya(Bacallao) in need of help, yet, it subverts expectations steadily and naturally, culminating in an experience that equally raises adrenaline and provokes thoughts.

Warner and Bacallao go beyond what’s expected of them to be convincing as the short’s two leads Omari and Amaya. Omari is initially a millennial everyman who enjoys playing video games with his brethren and is easily enamored with lovely ladies. As the story progresses his flaws leak through and are intricately paced out in Omari’s performance. Bacallao is a delight as Amaya, giving a multilayered portrayal. She’s a beautiful girl contrasting her co-star with a distinct persona and rising tension. She tells a story of her own with only her body language once her dialogue ends which further adds to All Skin No Laugh’s mesmerizing nature. As for the supporting cast, you’ll have to see them for yourself.

Silva and Reyes demonstrate a superb eye for detail with their directing, taking nothing for granted, and keeping their undivided attention on one scene at a time. Everything from the average person’s life to the insurmountable dread of a harrowing fate is showcased in full. The cinematography matches the story’s gravitas with imagery that will send shivers through your spine and open your eyes as wide as you can when in all actuality you want to shut them.

The eerie imagery is not only boasted by the immersive cinematography but also by the makeup and costume design which were on par with Hollywood productions with the likes of The Conjuring, The Exorcist, and American Horror Story. They are admiringly unsettling to watch which is of course a testament to the talent of the artists and designers.

The Final Verdict

Upon rewatching All Skin No Laugh multiple times I’m pleased to say that I am at a loss to find anything negative to say about this production. The acting, pacing, cinematography, costumes, and makeup all fit together to craft a frightening story that’s philosophical in the sense that it shows how quickly the powerful can become the powerless as trust is broken. So with that being said Moriviews will give All Skin No Laugh…

10/10

If you’re a horror fan, an elevated horror fan in particular, or an enthusiast for nuanced storytelling, I assure you that All Skin No Laugh is one short film you won’t want to miss. It will be released digitally on September 14th via Eventive.

About All Skin No Laugh

Release Date: September 14
Directors: Israel Silva, Romario Reyes
Writers: Israel Silva, Romario Reyes, Valdir Silva, Mary-Rebekah Reyes
Producers: Mary-Rebekah Reyes
Production: Daddy Gramps Red Productions
Distribution: Liquid Matter Studios
Cast: Reuel Warner, Isabel Bacallao, Kern Salandy, Agnelia Reyes, Mary-Rebekah Reyes
Rating: PG-13

Logline: A chance encounter between a gamer and a traveler becomes a chilling disaster after an untimely revelation on a lonely thunderous night.

Score: 10/10

Will you be watching All Skin No Laugh? Are you ready to feel your skin crawl? Let us know in the comments. If enjoyed what you read there’s more where that came from. Follow Moriviews on Twitter, Facebook or Instagram, and subscribe to the newsletter to make sure you don’t miss anything. Thank you for viewing.

KEEP READING: Stranger Things Season 4 Review: A Hauntingly Glorious Way To Turn Your Senses “Upside Down”

Moriviews