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The word ‘Callus’ is defined as ‘an area of thick hard skin on a hand or foot, usually caused by rubbing’ by online dictionaries.
Ciarán Hickey’s short film ‘Callus‘ is a folklore-horror tale about a man named Ferghus (Michael Patric) shielding his young daughter, Íonait (Gráinne Good), from his small, superstitious town. Íonait is born with a grotesquely deformed hand, and the midwife at her delivery warns Ferghus against keeping the baby, claiming the child is an ominous sign sent to test their community. As Íonait grows older, it becomes increasingly challenging for Ferghus to keep her confined to their humble home, away from prying eyes and wagging tongues.
About 18 minutes long, ‘Callus‘ is a bleak tale exploring how superstitions can shape small rural communities, promoting discriminatory, harmful, and violent behavior. Just because she is born different, Íonait becomes a symbol of fear, hatred, and wrath. After an ominous cold open featuring a flashback to Íonait’s birth, the first few minutes of the film focus on the domestic lives of Ferghus and Íonait.
The father-daughter duo live in relative peace, even though the girl is largely confined to her home. However, she shares a loving bond with her father, with no rebellious streak in sight. On the encouragement of a neighbor, Ferghus takes Íonait out for her first drink at a local pub to celebrate her 18th birthday, and that’s they day things change.
While ‘Callus‘ doesn’t explore anything particularly new, it’s an interesting folklore-horror tale, albeit mild in violence and gore. Driven by a small cast of talented actors who convincingly sell the gloomy rural setting, it’s worth a one-time watch for indie horror film fans.
You can watch ‘Callus’ on YouTube.
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