The Flute
2023 · 11m · USA
Directed by Nick Roney
Genres: dark comedy, horror
Tones: dark, darkly comic, provocative, surreal
Fleeing a long-term relationship, a young man moves in with his best friends. When he discovers one roommate has stolen a nude photo of his ex, he tries to retrieve it — and uncovers a deeply disturbing secret about his friend group.
Picked by Felix
The scouts
SXSW Midnight slow-burn dark comedy that lands on a grotesque practical-effects reveal — heartbreak roommate movie that turns into something else. The age-restriction is doing the marketing.
An SXSW Midnight selection with a practical-effects reveal carried by genuine dramatic investment — the age-restriction and the slow-burn construction suggest real craft, though the comparisons to Hereditary and EEAAO are ambitious. Worth examining.
Age-gated YouTube with no description visible — only the SXSW Midnight framing comes through. The pitch (slow-burn dark comedy with a grotesque practical-effects reveal) is exactly the register I want, but the locked page makes confident scoring hard.
Reviews
The Flute is full of inventive framing, almost matching its premise for creativity. The makeup effects are images you won't be able to shake long after watching.
This is even funnier and more disgusting than expected — which means it's a must watch. Definitely don't watch this short at work.
Festivals
- SXSW 2023, Grand Jury Prize