Milk & Cookies (2020) Short Film Review
★★★★
Directed by: #BearWinterPerreau, #AlexBaróCayetano
Written by: #BearWinterPerreau, #AlexBaróCayetano
Starring: #JaydenBoyd, #MarieHeleneBoyd, #JoshuaWhincup, #MelvynRawlinson
Short Film Review by: Emily Davison
Adam (Jayden Boyd) is a young boy who hates Santa (Melvyn Rawlinson), so what would a normal kid do? Well, he plans to kill the Christmas holiday icon with a nasty little scheme, only for it to backfire on the unexpectant troublemaker.
Milk & Cookies (2020) is a short horror/back comedy directed and written by English filmmakers Bear Winter-Perreau and Alex Baró-Cayetano. The film is rather outlandish in its premise alone, especially in regard to its rather bleak ending depending on how you wish to view it, but for those who enjoy a slice of dark comedy and delightful charm, this short offers a sweet Christmas treat to get your teeth sunk into.
The film indulges in a slick, engaging style with energetic pacing which definitely makes for wholesome, entertaining viewing. There are quick cuts to action shots, such as a pivotal sequence where Adam makes gingerbread men with his mum’s boyfriend and the exciting transitions mirror the style of directors like Edgar Wright with its wonderful cinematography. The film is very charming and witty in its dark comedy approach, as well as presenting some nice little visual gags, such as a scene in the supermarket where Adam places a pack of Jammie Dodgers in his mum’s shopping trolley, only for her to immediately take them out when he has turned away and place them on the shelf next to her.
Jayden Boyd as the young lead naturally exuberates boyish mischief and acts much like one would expect a child to behave with an unconventional mission to murder Santa Clause. His mum (Marie Helene Boyd) also embodies warmth and charm as she deals with her troublemaker son, appearing to be blissfully unaware of his vendetta against Saint Nick. Nevertheless, she encourages her son to make gingerbread men with her boyfriend Greg (Joshua Whincup), not realising what disastrous plans Adam has in store for Santa when he arrives.
The film is undeniably very funny if watched in the right frame of, with an emphasis on how it can be dangerous to play with things one doesn’t understand, which ends very badly for poor Adam. There is a cheeky cameo from Santa Clause himself which certainly elevates the irreverent style of dark comedy and makes for a punchy ending to a very strong five minutes of film.
Milk & Cookies will likely not be a film for everyone due to its style of humour, however, the comedic unconventional premise and the wacky shenanigans that ensue are what makes this short so special and delightful. The cinematography and direction is polished and slick, with natural believable performances from its cast and a memorable ending, making for a satisfying dark Christmas feast too good to resist.
#EmilyDavison
