Horror Short Film "The Retreat" | ALTER
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- čas přidán 6. 07. 2022
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When Mia, a distraught single mother, arrives at a retreat that uses revenge as a form of therapy, she must face her pain and decide which path is right for her.
"The Retreat" by Marcus Anthony Thomas
#ALTER #horror #shortfilm
Connect with the Filmmaker:
marcusanthonythomas.co.uk/
/ marcusanthonythomas
/ chocuz
More About "The Retreat":
What do you do when the man who killed your child roams the streets freely? When you can´t shake the pain or the anger from your bones. What do you do? Nothing. You sit back and you move on. That's how society works. But what if there was a place that could help you, not to move on, but to move through? A place that could take that man, that murderer, and present him to you on a silver platter. Would you do the unthinkable?
"The Retreat" Credits:
Cast:
Mia - Iniki Mariano
Echo - Charlotte Palmer
John - Daniel Copeland
Christopher - Tamati Phethean
Woman - Taylah Schofield
Finley - Ryan Handley
Crew:
Director - Marcus Anthony Thomas
Producer - Jordi Morera
Writer - Tom Van Overloop
Cinematographer - Sonja Huttunen
Editor - Lesley Posso
Composer - Oliver Wegmuller
Sound Designer - Dominika Latusek
Production Sound Mixer- David Jauregui
Colorist/ On-line Editor - Nigel Tadyanehondo
Production Managers - Emily Farrell, Niamh Broderick
First Assistant Director - Milou van der Kolff
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Video Title
/ watchalter - Krátké a kreslené filmy
This film deals with the profound emotion of unresolved grief. Grief has many potential stages and this one takes the stage of anger and amplifies it to revenge.
This revenge idea is pure horror in and of itself as it puts victims in the role of judge, jury, and executioner. This leads to an intense story and film which works well as a revenge fantasy.
The film leaves us with that and the viewer has to ponder what is next. For me, revenge does not (or rarely) satisfy and then makes the victim just as culpable as the initial person who caused the pain.
This film also explores how once we take certain steps there is no going back.
The music was also inserted in the right places and right time.
Very powerful and congratulations to all involved.
Peace.
Thank you for taking the time to compose this and I’m glad the intention wasn’t lost behind the violence!
ok.
Fabulous! Where and when can I sign up! Sort of Not joking.
Look in your comments on CZcams
Thank you for explaining the premiss of the story
so profound!
The woman in charge of the retreat still isn’t over whatever happened to her kid. She forces the others to go through with their killings so she can watch and relive her own killing over and over, because revenge doesn’t bring closure, just temporary relief. I think that’s the message of the film.
@@realistnightshade6300 That’s true, but you have to move forwards, which this borderline-cult leader has not done, which is why she pressures this young woman into something she is not necessarily willing to do.
Interesting backstory! Thank you for watching!
@@FreshTakeOfficial This film could be a feature length, and I'd love that. It could even be a series.
@@realistnightshade6300 Nope. It is like drug. When you are high you feel so good but when the drug wears out you literally feel so low, lower than no drug lifestyle.
So true, I just didn’t like the part when the guy bashed the woman’s head in with the hammer. I know it’s an act but seems so realistic
Watching this was therapy for me. I found myself shouting at my late abusive mother "Why did you do this??!" "I was your daughter!!! I covered for you to the nuns and teachers the black eyes (covered with concealer and a million sorries) and the bruises! " I finally got healing facing this. This movie was actually good for me. Very cathartic. Although my abusive mother has passed in 1998, I now can heal. Sometimes it does take 25 years.
Well I’m glad that this film has moved you in some way and that you’re finding peace x
*hugs* I'm happy for you
You would probably like the film The Retaliators starring Jacobi Shaddix
well as horrible as what you went through was and how truly sorry I am, I am very happy you never signed up for a retreat like this. Also glad you can live your best life now that this movie made a difference for you.
The revenge fantasy as therapy is such an original idea for a horror film. I can't believe I've never seen it done before. Great acting, too. It just shows the pure power in horror. I'm practically shaking!
I was too.
Thank you for taking the time to watch! I hope that you will stop shaking eventually.
@@FreshTakeOfficial You're welcome. I did haha
Drop more newer videos were female demon possession other girls and only moms and other girls in the video
Do alot more newer videos were female demon possession other girls only moms and daughter's and only moms and only women and daughter's in the vc today at CZcams
Forgot i was watching a short film on CZcams. Beautifully shot, wonderfully acted. Greatly digged the Midsommar Vibe i got.
Our cinematographer Sonja Huttunen really brought it with the visuals and the actors grounded a ridiculous scenario in truth. It was a pleasure to make and a big team effort!
@@FreshTakeOfficial just wanted to say this was so beautifully made & the main character was amazing she broght so much emotion & depth in such a short moment & I could feel her pain so KUDOS to her... also I would love a full film of this but idk how u feel bout that but if not I can't wait to see what else u have for the future ur very talented & i bet u have so much more in the works to show us so i applaud u sir & to the crew & cast 👏👏 anyways hope u have a wonderful weekend & will be keeping my 👀 out for u in the future much 🖤❤🧡💚💙💜💞💕💓💗 again BRAVO my friend!!
I got midsommar vibes too from this movie
@@armcollector5856 Thank you! There's plenty more that I'm working on that will be bigger, wilder and dark in its own way. It might take a while, but keep your eyes peeled for when it moves! Take care.
It reminds me of the great film, The Retaliators starring Jacobi Shaddix
Well… I hope all of you horror fans enjoy this mental little short we made!
Yes we did ‼️👍💯🖤💋
More than loved this one, looking forward to more works in the future!
@@lucyladyandhusband ❤️
@@chrisfiorillo6550 much more weird shit is in the works!
Great work Marcus. Grim & affecting with great performances.
A world with no understanding of the point or purpose of forgiveness is a place of unremitting horror. The ideas lurking behind this short movie are the source of so much of today’s evil. This was a fantastic, chilling movie that for most of it was skating too close to the reality of our own private minds and thoughts that we can’t help connecting with the girl, the victim, and the teacher.
Thank you for watching... This film really is an open question to everyone, so thank you for taking the time to ponder the answer!
I felt this on a personal level I always wanted revenge on those three people who took my innocence. It's very hard to forgive and sometimes you can't.
Yes.
I just wanted to comment to let you know that you don’t have to forgive in order to heal. Forgiveness justifies the people and what they did. I’m so sorry for everything that happened to you. You could forgive them in your heart if that will bring you peace, but you don’t owe an abuser the satisfaction in knowing that. I wish every abuser a horrible life
Agreed
I liked it, wonderfully done. The real horror is now does she not only have to deal with her overwhelming grief, she’s going to have to deal with her guilt too.
What a shit position to be in!
The type of film that gives you something to take with you ... after you've finished watching. Clever, EERIE and well done everyone.
This is what I aspire to do, so that the audience isn't a passive observer, but gets to participate in the story themselves!
Wow. Just imagine if there were places like this in the United States!! Think people would be nicer to other people, knowing if they're not, they could be found and killed by the person they wronged??
revenge is not horror. in no way is this terrifying to anyone without a guilty conscience. i would go so far as to say this is actually inspirational if youve suffered unfairly.
That is a very interesting perspective. I hadn’t thought of it like that. We are so often taught to take the higher ground that we condemn those who cannot forgive. But no one is ever really owed forgiveness. It is a kindness granted that feels more like a social contract than anything else. It gives a new view into the catharsis of revenge fantasy. I like your use of the word “inspirational”. Very thought provoking viewpoint for people to consider.
Vengeance removes the aggressors from our lives and frees us of the anguish they caused us. Forgiveness only allows them to do it again
@@ALittleFuzzyLamb13never thought anybody would read my comment, let alone find it agreeable or thought provoking. thank you.
it is expected of us to forgive and move on, and i acknowledge that forgiveness takes strength, it is true. however, our nature as human beings is flawed, we arent islands, we are not separate from the consequences of our actions or the consequences of the actions of others. nobody can be perfect all the time, so if you cannot bring yourself to sink down to their level for a little "pay back" even some of the time, especially when they deserve it, then you have no one to blame for your suffering but yourself. i say doing what is right despite the consequences takes more strength than "turning the other cheek".
thats my philosophy on revenge.
do what needs to be done and let God sort it out.
@@SamuelBlack84 indeed. people rarely change, especially when there are no consequences for their actions. so if good people take revenge once in awhile, evil might think twice before taking advantage of them.
😳
Her acting was SUPER!🌹
Well done❣️👏👏👏🌹
Blessings, everyone and have a lovely Thursday!🌷
Blessed be~ ✨
🌛🌹🌜👏🏻
Thank you... The actors were/are superstars!
If something like this were to actually be a legal form of therapy, I'm really curious if they would allow toxic so called "parents", especially so called "mothers" to be killed in whatever way we wish. I'm sad to say I already know exactly what weapons I would use.
I feel that on so many levels.
A part two in my mind would surround a brother of the guy who got murdered at the end. The brother joins the retreat and upon asking who he wants to get revenge on, he would simply say, "This whole retreat!" We would then see him cleverly knock off the group one by one.
That's pretty cool.
The film really depicts that we shouldn't resent those who have taken from us, but forgive them.
Interesting take!
This is not an horror, this is a drama. A great drama I would say. Congratz to everyone involved.
Such a big compliment. Thank you!
My favourite drama is The Retaliators starring Jacobi Shaddix
I need this in a full film.
Imagine if it revolved around this retreat and the director of the retreat and showed us different clients who have attended and their stories. Eventually leading to a past client who we had seen and followed their storyline getting kidnapped and brought to be killed as revenge from a family member. So it comes full circle and becomes a vicious cycle of revenge.
This is a brilliant idea.
This was great. Iniki Mariano was amazing.
And here I thought revenge was best served cold.
Excellent short.
Thank you! We were aiming for Michelin star revenge.
@@FreshTakeOfficial You assuredly got yourselves a Michelin star actress!
The actor (the little boys mother)was simply amazing. That anguished scream hurt my heart. Great short 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
When you get revenge but you don't feel vindicated. This was terrifying. The acting was top notch. I don't know why the mom looked so familiar to me...like I know her. I am assuming she is a single mom. I am a single mom and the thought of losing my child is devastating on multiple levels and the need to protect them yeah so I can feel her pain...but I can feel his pain too. Then you have the people playing God and home brewing vigilantes. This is terrifying, disturbing, dark, amazing, almost enchanting (but in a gruesome dark way), enticing, sinister, and awe struck. I feel so mortified.
Very original, which is quite hard to pull off within the horror genre. Good acting, top notch filming and the whole topic of grief(especially parental grief) is a mostly unexplored within this genre. Everyone saying "revenge isn't the answer"....if someone killed your child it would totally flip any morale compass you held, on its head.
Thank you for the considered reply! Originality is what I strive for!
@@FreshTakeOfficial You deserve it. I'm very excited to see more from you. Best wishes
Revenge isn't the answer, Retrobution would it be
Wow this was brilliant. Beautiful cinematography, great acting by all characters. You could really hear the grief in her scream before she stabbed him.
She’s a remarkable young actress!
After she killed him I was waiting for a scene where she sees his little boy or girl wondering where their daddy is..
Vengeance never ends
I've often wondered about this - what if it's a myth that revenge would always eat away at you, or is never the answer, or makes the whole world blind yadda yadda. Like what if as a blanket statement for all crimes - that's not exactly true. What if for specific crimes forgiveness is the best medicine, but for others - maybe the absolute worst, or the most small and petty - revenge is the best thing to heal.
Interesting take! Who bloody knows!
Something about the catharsis of these murders reminds me of Shirley Jackson's The Lottery.
Thanks for watching!
In the words of Jigsaw......"I WANT TO PLAY A GAME.".
this was phenomenal..i am just amazed by every aspect of this masterpiece..and the lead actress! oh god, she is superb..
Reminds me of the supposed justice systems in which the victim of a crime decides the criminal's punishment. It was an effective detail that the man looked enough like her son to imagine he was her son grown up, and how she gently touched his head before the end.
The touching of the head was the actors idea, not from the script and it just felt right, whatever that is. These are the happy accidents that add the layers of complexity! Thanks for watching.
I rarely write comments (mostly because as a frog I need to translate what I think but not only) This shrort film is very well done and smart. There is a lot of things abount grief, revenge, being expected to seeck revenge, wanting revenge without knowing if it will make you feel better or seeking revenge even if it will make you feel worst, and more. It is thought provoking. It make me remember a 2007 movie called Snow Cake.
Croak, croak, Riiiibbit. 😁
Very good actors, and very professionally made short film 👍
Thank you, everybody worked really hard on this one!
Very disturbing but a very good short film. Alter makes you think.
The best revenge is silence. It's also the cleanest.
Great acting. This actress is so awesome
Certified Gold!!!!!
Thank you!
Wow!! Intense... would fit pretty well as an A24 feature! I do hope there are plans for a feature.
Well done Iniki!!! 👏👏👏
I guess there is some truth to this in the sense that we have to express the anger and hatred we may feel to that person. If we cover over it with superficial forgiveness it will continue to eat at us. In that sense the man is not literally the man, but the emotion of anger that we need to express and acknowledge without judgement in order to truly move through and heal.
Such a profound horror short!!! Brilliant!
Thank you! Profound is what we are aiming for!
What an ending! It can be read so many different ways. well worth the watch
Thank you... It is pretty bad ass!
That was very well done, and put together great storyline I loved it keep it coming and thank you.
Thank you Donald! Much more to come.
@@FreshTakeOfficial this is actually good short film... at the first half i was like "wtf is goin on" but on the second half i ended up clickin the like button... Good story... 11/10 good job my guy :D
Also may I just say I absolutely loved the lighting of this.
Excellent acting! Very real! It got me!
All of the actors really brought their A-Game for this one! I was very lucky.
Brilliant. Also caught some Midsommar vibes
Yeeeeah, there was no way of escaping the comparison unfortunately... I mean... it's a brilliant film, so there are worse comparisons!
@@FreshTakeOfficial sometimes it's nice to pay homage for stuff- and still it felt completely unique and stands on it's own as a great film. Acting was amazing too. Love this channel.
Emotionally intense for me as a mother to a son. Wow! It was good well done
Excelente. Alter por favor, den opción para sustitulos en español , o traducción aunque sea para los comentarios.
Wow…. Magnificent acting
She is incredible!
Everybody nailed it!
It was very deep I don't know that kind of pain and if I ever experienced it I don't know if I could do what they did I love horror just like the rest of the horror fans but this is a different kind of horror but it happens a lot these days but thank you 😔👍💯
Thank you for the lovely response!
Superb acting**** future star****❤️❤️❤️ WOW what a script 🙀**** her scream felt so real ***** award for best short should definitely be this film ❤️🔥❤️🔥❤️🔥❤️🔥❤️🔥❤️🔥
Brava! This could have been full length
90mins of this would be bleak as all hell 🤣
Loved it! The revenge fantasy reminded me a bit of Lady Vengeance (2005)
A classic trilogy. I’m a huge fan of Park Chan Wook!
Eye for an eye makes the world blind.. Forgiveness is better than Vengeance..
I don't want to prescribe, but you could be right! What does more violence solve? It satiates a temporary urge and that's it.
आप लोग वीडियो मे बहुत मेहनत करते हो आप लोगों की वजह से हम लोगों को इतनी प्यारी वीडीयो देखने का अवसर मिलता है धन्यवाद 🙏
Thank you so much!
Wow 😳 this was really good.
Don’t sound TOO shocked lol
So dark. Loved it.
Thanks for taking the time to watch!
Everything abouth this film is 👌👌👌 great job 👍👍👍
I'm so glad you enjoyed it!
But what happens after.. the child is still gone.. 💔
So What? This means the killer should bê unpunished?
@@jordanferreira5294 no. I’m saying in most cases even after revenge.. it doesn’t help.. the situation remains unchanged
Justice in its rawest form.
It's not about bringing the child back to life but to give the child justice it deserve. Revenge is justice in its raw form...
@@EvonneLindiwe i still ask you: the kid wont come back, so its ok to the killer be unpunished? Revenge is ALWAYS the answer, not the solution.because there is no solution
Makes me want to see more like this...
I'm writing as fast as I can!
💙 Very Beautiful Short Film 💙
Thank you!
Beautiful and brilliant
Thank you! Glad you enjoyed it.
New title of the next video it’s not the cold I fear it’s the darkness I feel
Well… I definitely wasn’t expecting that
No one expects the cake.
If only this was real.. I got some people that gotta leave this earth.
Yikes. The FBI is coming to kick your door in my guy
@@FreshTakeOfficial YAYYYYYYYY
DUDE YOU SHOULD CREATE YOUR OWN MOVIE
Oh shit, I never really thought about that!
I saw this movie it is called The Retaliators starring Jacobi Shaddix
Fantastic.
💪
Not even 3 minutes in and holy shit!
Yeah... sorry about that.
revenge is a dish best served cold
The concept so good and new...but something felt incomplete...idk what but there was something missing about her emotions...something didn't feel connected.
Thank you for watching! If you figure it out, let me know.
Great! 훌륭합니다!
Thank you for watching!
i like the part when she says its morbin time touched my heart ngl also called saul he said it was one of the movies every made
Wenomecha insama
Tumajar bisaun
Wifen looof
Eselifter braun
Wenomecha insama
Tumajar bisaun
Wifen looof
Eselifter braun
Wenomecha insama
Tumajar bisaun
Wifen looof
Eselifter braun
Wenomecha insama
Tumajar bisaun
Wifen looof
Eselifter braun
I really wish she did say that.
For some reason I thought she would see her son looking at her disapprovingly at the end. That's typically the approved stance of what amounted to vigilantism. Harsh look at a tough subject. Great acting.
It would be nice to provide subtitles in Portuguese too... 😊 Brazil thanks you 🇧🇷💕
perhaps, with all the crime and death going on lately the murderers rapists mass shooters etc... should watch this before going to jail a little therapy nice job good short :)
The world needs healing!
Just like any other Alter film, this too is absolutely brilliant! The acting was superb. The main character could portray a lot of emotions very well. The background score definitely added to the horror. Great job. Got midsommar vibes from this movie but I also feel this movie is unique on its own
Thank you for the lovely words. I did my best to take it as far away from Midsommar as I could, but there's no escaping the comparison because of the set up. I'm glad it still felt unique!
So, is it better to forgive in order to forget and find peace, or to take revenge, which would free you from the rage you feel for some period of time, but eventually you might start feeling even worse than before? It's never one hundred percent certain that once you take revenge on someone you will find permanent peace. That's why it's important to forgive. It's actually better for the person who forgives, not for the forgiven one.
It's an interesting question and is exactly what I wanted to throw out to the audience. Thank you for watching!
@@FreshTakeOfficial You give me the answer to my lifelong dilemma!! I always questioned this my whole life. Why the prophets always teach us to forgive and not pursue an eye for an eye attitude. Why the abused must be the sufferer without counterattacking or revenge? Why? Now I got the answer from you. THANK YOU SO MUCH 🙏🙏
This is definitely a retreat for psychos
Or is it?
Lunch horror film let's goooo
Oh god... You shouldn't watch this over lunch. I'm so sorry.
Wow i have a friend who looks like the very first killer! I could totally see him doing something like this. Jesus 😂
Not me wishing this was a real place 😅😂
2:15
In reality, this also happens with people, not only with horror movies 😱
It's a wild world we live in!
REVENGE at its best 😁👌🏼
Thanks for watching!
Altered Breakfast please!!!
Very good very nice 👍
Hello Nicki Minaj
Really nice 👌
Thank you for watching!
Well!!!🥳👻👍🏽 alter u already know 😈
Yeah they do!
Ya know a lot of people who have lost some one important to them in this way would jump at the chance to go on that Retreat!! An eye 👁 for an eye 👁!!!
If there was a place where revenge could be facilitated in the cleanest possible way and there were no repercussions... I think a lot of people would do it!
a short film with an ambiguous theme
but hopefully a clear question?
I am sure that this is not the case. I kind of feels as if the message was, that revenge is good and useful, though.
What does her face tell you at the end?
@@FreshTakeOfficial I said that I don't believe that this is intended.
@@LamiNalchor what is it that you don’t believe is intended ?
@@FreshTakeOfficial " I am sure that this is not the case. I kind of feels as if the message was, that revenge is good and useful, though. "
@@LamiNalchor The film was made as a question to the audience, with that punctuated by her expression after having done the act. So if your answer to that question is that revenge is good and useful, then you are right. If another viewer takes the opposing viewpoint, then they are also right! That's the intention :)
This was really fcking great
Thank you Nina!
Killing that man has not brought her any happiness at all
Great are their really centers like this
Who knows! Why not? If there isn't, then there's a gap in the market.
Beats our courts 7 days a week.
Absolutely!
I feel like those in the comments who say ´revenge is wrong´ did not meet people who are never sorry for what they have done
Well my goodness.
Gosh, golly darn!
I could’ve sworn you lot put out a horror short starring Joe Keery recently? Whyd you delete it? Got me thinking I had a fever dream lol.
Yeah, I'm sure I saw it too, probably got copyright issues or something
Are you talking about the “How to be Alone” one? Because that one is there.
@@victoriar.3459 Nah, ain’t there bro. At least not for me.
yeah I saw it too probably copyright
I stumbled upon a short yesterday, don't remember the name. Alter uploaded it less than an hour ago and YT already striked it, like I saw the thumbnail freezed with a YT announcement. C3nsoring gets worse everyday
It would be great to see the partner/child of the drunk driver turning up to the retreat looking for their own revenge...
This reminds me of Mine field episode 3 of season 1
A doctor really messed up with my son. He passed away in my arms and a piece of me died. After watching this I think if I went to the retreat I would get revenge. I'm not healed at all. Two years later the ptsd I feel each night is overwhelming. It's so hard to forgive knowing he's living his life and my sons is gone because of him. He also tried to get me to not do a autopsy. I wanted one and when I went back up in my room after telling him, he came up and said okay they picked him up. Three days later as I'm planning his funeral still in hospital the funeral director looked at me so confused when I said when are you getting baby Edward from his autopsy and he said honey I picked him up days ago. The doctor refused it so I came and got him. I'm so bitter. I hope eventually I heal but I feel like I got no justice or closure.
I’m really sorry to hear this! I hope you find peace.
Isn’t this malpractice? Couldn’t you sue him? Would that give you any closure at all?
Gives midsomar vibes