Brooklyn Horror Film Festival 2023 shorts: ‘RIDE BABY RIDE’ & ‘THE WYRM OF BWICH PEN BARRAS’

RIDE BABY RIDE

Feminist companion for CARRIE lovers, Sofie Somoroff‘s short RIDE BABY RIDE finds a female mechanic in the new ownership of a possessed car. As the vehicle attempts to incapacitate and sexually assault her, she must fight for her life. Celina Bernstein effortlessly commands the viewer with what may amount to all five lines of dialogue. She acts her ass off. She is “final girl” magic. This metaphor for toxic masculinity and misogyny is as cathartic as it is bloody.

The Wyrm of Bwlch Pen Barras


Craig Williams slowly unravels the tale of the return of something mysterious. The townsfolk seem surprised at its appearance so soon after the last. They speak in vagaries, but it is made clear. Whatever it is cannot be good. The men gather to protect the land by offering a sacrifice.

A string-heavy, throwback slasher score plays over long, meandering, and scenic takes. The genius of this short lies within what we don’t see. Our imagination is our worst enemy.


BHFF 2023