The Rock of Ages
2021 · 16m · Iceland
Directed by Eron Sheean
Genres: comedy, dark comedy, fantasy
Tones: dark, darkly comic, surreal, whimsical
A soldier fleeing his enemies across a vast, desolate Icelandic landscape encounters a pipe-smoking talking rock that promises to grant his deepest desire — immortality — but first he must face his fiendish deeds.
Picked by Zoe
The scouts
A foul-mouthed Icelandic puppet rock voiced by Ólafur Darri offering immortality — sold, this is the absurdist hook I look for. Practical puppet over CG every time.
A practical-puppet talking rock voiced by Ólafur Darri Ólafsson in an Icelandic Seventh-Seal pastiche — the Gilliam-Bergman tonal collision is either inspired or untenable. The materiality of practical effects earns my benefit of the doubt.
Sixteen minutes featuring a sailor-mouthed practical puppet rock voiced by Ólafur Darri Ólafsson in desolate Icelandic landscape — that's a tactile prop-driven concept that lives or dies on the puppet's expressiveness. Gilliam-meets-Icelandic-folklore is a high bar to clear.
Reviews
Sheean's film is so distinct it feels almost unrivalled in the world of short film — from Lemarquis' commanding performance to the striking scenery, atmospheric soundtrack by Feist, and inventive puppet design.
A Chatty Rock Meets a Reckless Soldier in This Gory and Delightful Fantasy Short.
Festivals
- Sitges Film Festival 2021
- Monster Fest 2021, Best Short Film