She's dying to get under your skin...
In a twisted story of co-dependence, a pair of estranged sisters are pitted against each other by a giant, abhorrent leech creature that uses its mind-controlling influence to puppeteer them from the inside out...
REVIEWS
A “riveting, special-effects-driven creature feature” [...] guaranteed to get under your skin…”
- Stephanie Greenhaw, Morbidly Beautiful
"...one of the best creature feature shorts I have seen this year."
- Joseph Perry, Horror Fuel
WINNER OF
BEST SHORT FILM
WINNER OF
BEST FX
DIRECTOR'S
STATEMENT
Will the sisters find common ground before it's too late?
It would be unrealistic to say that the film is not meant to be entertaining, but in many ways Sucker was a creative exorcism for me as a Director and Writer: It's personal in subtle ways, building on themes of sibling rivalry, familial guilt and how extreme a situation needs to get before someone asks for help.
The intention of Sucker is very much to give the audience a full body experience: From the sound design invading their minds, down to the practical effects leaving their skin crawling long after they’ve left the cinema.
My hope is that the film will continue to surprise and thrill the audience throughout - and just as they’re getting used to one scenario, it shifts gears again before dragging them, kicking and screaming, to its horrifying conclusion.
And make sure to get that mole checked next time you're at the doctor’s..!
IN MEMORY OF:
Anyone who sees SUCKER will have seen the title card at the end, which dedicates the film to Marcus Harben, a Mentor & True Friend.
Marcus was a huge horror fan and a dear friend to Alix and Keir, but sadly lost his battle with cancer in February of 2021. He was one of the most generous people, with a cracking sense of humour.
Ever encouraging, Marcus was always game to watch our films and gave some great notes on the SUCKER script in particular, which improved the ending 10-fold.
In Marcus's words on SUCKER: "As someone familiar with their own body horrors right now it struck a strong personal note - I could relate."
Both Keir and Alix were so happy to have worked on Marcus' first feature 'Followers', which premiered at FrightFest 2021, alongside 'Isolation'. A bittersweet experience, as he wasn't there to enjoy it himself.
Sadly Marcus was taken from the world far too soon, but we'll always be glad for the time and laughs we had with him.
R.I.P. Marcus (1974 - 2021)
CREDITS
Art Director:
Eva-Marie Kung
Lighting Assistant:
Alex Shipman
Sound Recordist:
Michael Chubb
Lead Special Effects MUA:
Sammm Agnew
Special Effects Artist MUA Asst:
Goshka Topolska
2nd Unit Director:
Keir Siewert
Director/Writer:
Alix Austin
Producer:
Keir Siewert
Director of Photography:
Anna Gudbrandsdottir
Prosthetics & Creature Effects:
Sammm Agnew
Visual Effects:
James Siewert
Composer:
Thibault Chavanis
Editor:
Kurt Schneider
Sound Designer:
Sean McGarrity
Sound Re-recording Mixer:
Natasha Haycocks
Foley Artist
Felipe Bolaño
Colourist:
Chris Francis
FESTIVALS 2022/23
SCREAMFEST LA
FRIGHTFEST UK
BRUSSELS INTERNATIONAL FANTASTIC FF
DEAD NORTHERN - WINNER: BEST SHORT
GENREBLAST - WINNER: BEST FX
ZEDFEST - WINNER: OUTSTANDING DIRECTING, OUTSTANDING PRODUCING, OUTSTANDING ACTING PERFORMANCE
ABERTOIR - NOMINATED: MÉLIÈS D'ARGENT, BEST SHORT
OTHER WORLDS - NOMINATED: MARY SHELLEY AWARD
BRITISH HORROR FILM FESTIVAL - WINNER: BEST SOUND DESIGN /
NOMINATED: BEST SHORT, BEST DIRECTING, BEST ACTING
FILMQUEST - NOMINATED: BEST MIDNIGHT SHORT
CHICAGO INTERNATIONAL FF - NOMINATED: BEST NARRATIVE SHORT
HORROR HAUS FF -
NOMINATED: BEST SHORT, BEST SCORE, BEST FX, BEST SOUND DESIGN
BIZARROLAND FF - NOMINATED: KONSTANSKI AWARD (FOR 'GOOPIEST FILM')
CHATTANOOGA
BUCHEON
POPCORN FRIGHTS
HORRORIGINS
BROOKLYN HORROR FF
FARGO FANTASTIC FF
THE DEAD OF NIGHT FF
TELLURIDE HORROR SHOW
LUSCA FANTASTIC FEST
TERROR IN THE BAY FF
NIGHTMARES FF
FREAKSHOW HORROR FF
UNRESTRICTED VIEW HORROR FF
CINESUD FRIGHTNIGHT
DISCO BLOOD BATH BY WENCH FF
ALPTRAUM (AUSTRIA)
DEAD AND SUDBURIED
MONSTER FEST AU
HORROR-ON-SEA
FINAL GIRLS BERLIN
NEVERMORE FF
RENEGADE FF
WENCH FF
BEESTION FF
LONDON HORROR SOCIETY SHOWCASE
BONEBAT COMEDY OF HORRORS
CABANE A SANG
STOKERCON: FINAL FRAME COMPETITION
ETHERIA FILM FESTIVAL
FANTOSFREAK FF
RAVENHEART INTERNATIONAL FF
COURT METRANGE