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Director: Laura Ugolini
Writers: Maria Galliani Dyrvik, Anja Skovly Freberg, Laura Ugolini
Four women convene to craft their ideal man, akin to a Ken doll, resorting to grotesque methods to manifest the epitome of male beauty.
Set in a hyper-colorful, neon-drenched world of kitschy fashion, the short horror film “Dystopia” presents protagonists adorned like Bratz dolls in an adult milieu—neither too risqué nor exuding teenage energy. The film begins with unsettling music, which is revealed to be the sound of a woman filing her nails. This seemingly innocuous detail foreshadows a gory little twist which takes place the very next minute.
Initially, we encounter three women, all conventionally “pretty” in appearance. They are later joined by another, whose extensive surgical alterations render her a caricature of Donatella Versace post numerous facial surgeries. Together, these four embark on a grisly endeavor.
Spanning about five minutes, the film doesn’t induce fear, but rather evokes imagery reminiscent of “Frankenstein” colliding with “Barbie” at RuPaul’s Drag Race. However, “Dystopia” concludes with a clever twist that prompts contemplation on the creators’ intended message. It serves as a campy commentary on unrealistic beauty standards prevalent in a social media-saturated world, where individuals—both young and old—are driven to extreme measures to achieve a desired “aesthetic” look.
Rating: 6 out of 10. You can watch “Dystopia” on YouTube.
