Mean Spirit
Under 5 Minutes • Short Films, 28-Jul-2020
Two friends enjoying a night to themselves realize they're not the only ones in the apartment. “Mean Spirit,” directed by Nick Funess, is a darkly funny snapshot of gossiping pals, bad roommates and getting caught in an awkward situation. While drinking wine one night, one of the friends, played by the film’s co-writer Samantha Carroll, expresses dismay with her new roommate — she writes notes when the dishes don’t get done, and cries herself to sleep because “she’s like a hospice nurse or something.” When the chit-chat is interrupted, the girls head out for cigarettes before returning to the apartment for an unsettling surprise. Writer/star Carroll is a talented director in her own right, responsible for two previous shorts we’ve featured, “Damsel,” and “Toxic,” both incisive portraits of self-absorbed young people. She’s just as astute in front of the camera, alternating between free-flowing shit talk and face-saving cordiality.
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