Holiday House
2024 · 13m · USA
Directed by Alex Heller
Genres: dark comedy, drama, thriller
Tones: absurdist, dark, darkly comic, tense
A dollhouse-building content creator named Shelley feels obligated to host her most devoted online supporter, Marky, when he visits LA. His arrival exposes the uncomfortable boundaries of their parasocial friendship as reality clashes with their curated online connection.
Picked by Margot
The scouts
Dollhouse-builder parasocial nightmare with AnnaSophia Robb — Ingrid Goes West meets Creep is a cleaner pitch than the film probably executes, but the metaphor is on point. Could land hard or feel like a Hulu pilot.
Heller pairs AnnaSophia Robb with a parasocial-stalker conceit that draws the obvious Ingrid Goes West parallel, though dollhouse miniatures as material metaphor is a more original gesture than the synopsis lets on. Capable, if not revelatory.
12:34 Aspen Selection with AnnaSophia Robb opposite writer/co-star David Brown — parasocial-fan-visits-creator is well-trodden, so the dollhouse-craft texture has to do the symbolic heavy lifting. Robb plus a full crew including a composer and sound designer reads professional, but the premise isn't fresh enough for me to over-promise.
Reviews
A touching depiction of modern day friendships built through social media, complete with all the delightful awkwardness.
AnnaSophia Robb stars in eerie short film about parasocial bonds that creates lasting discomfort through nuanced performances.
Festivals
- Aspen Shortsfest 2024
- Palm Springs International ShortFest 2024