You are on page 1of 2

Certificate: 12A Director/Screenwriter: Jenna Rydon Co-Director/Editor: Morgan Stewart-Norris Release date: 31st January 2012 Plot Summery:

Young man goes on a work experience placement to a hotel, only to discover that he will never leave.
The Check-In is a science fiction film, produced by Ouch! Productions, who are an up and coming Production Company. Jenna Rydon, who has only made an opening to a short film before this short, directs the film well. The tale follows Dave, a Bellboy (Morgan Stolliday) on a normal day at work as he reflects and remembers his first day while uncovering a deep, dark secret. The first sign we see of this secret is the ever-present Receptionist. This tall, dark character has a simple personality, meaning he doesn't have one!
December 2011 EMPIRE 38

Producer/Cameraman: Josh Nowlan Running Time: 4 minutes 54 seconds

The receptionist (Nick Orchard) is a permanent feature of the hotel, he never seems to move, hes also the hotels human representative. After having a conversation with one of the hotels guest (David Smith) Dave starts to realise that no one ever leaves the hotel. When he gets the hunch, he searches the hotel for the thousands of guests and their rooms, but he discovers that the hotels stairs go on and on forever. Frightened at the thought that he will never leave the hotel, Dave tries to escape through the entrance, only to

its a portal that takes the escapee back into the foyer. The flash backs of Daves first day at the hotel take up the majority of the film, but the flash forwards let the audience know that Dave has accepted the fact that he cant leave the hotel. The voice over also adds something different to the film, and it gives the audiVerdict ence an explanation to whats going. The Check-In is a great watch; it has

Morgan Stolliday performs the Bellboy the thrill factor and excitement to keep role to perfection in this, his first lead- the audience members pined in their ing role in a short film. The film is seats. The Check-In is hopefully the first made dark by the chilling character of of many films from Ouch! Productions. the Receptionist, who sounds terrifying, and always stands in the same SEE THIS IF YOU LIKED place. Nick Orchard, whos an experienced actor, has stared in many shorts The Shinning (1980) and feature long films, and even stared in Skins (channel 4), plays the role of receptionist well. Nick creates 1408 (2007) the dark and chilling atmosphere of the hotel, but the poor acting of David
December 2011 EMPIRE 39

You might also like