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‘Anger can turn humans into monsters’ – that seems to be the message of ‘Minor Anger Issues’ (Küçük Öfke Sorunları), a short twisty horror-thriller.
Directed by Can Sagir (‘Ancient Voice’) and written by Erdeniz Tunç, the indie film opens with a seemingly ordinary scene: a teacher (Oğuzhan Altın) explaining to a student’s guardian (Ahmet Atakul) that his younger brother Mert (Aziz Efe Güven) is dealing with anger issues. Even as the older brother downplays Mert’s behavior, the teacher’s warning, that minor issues can spiral out of control, proves darkly prophetic.
The brothers return home, with Mert receiving a gentle but necessary lecture about controlling his temper. At bedtime, the younger boy appears innocent and harmless, snuggled under the covers with a worn-out teddy bear by his side, belying the hidden rage he holds within. But when armed intruders break in later that night, the calm gives way to blood, violence, and unforeseen consequences.
It’s child actor Aziz Efe Güven who delivers the most natural performance in ‘Minor Anger Issues’ as primary protagonist Mert. On the other hand, the other supporting actors, despite their brief screen time, come across as a bit stiff in their delivery.
The cinematography is simple, with a dull, broody atmosphere that complements the tone of ‘Minor Anger Issues’. Perhaps a cold-open showing Mert throwing a temper tantrum at school might’ve made the progress more gritty.
With a runtime of just under seven minutes, ‘Minor Anger Issues’ doesn’t have the space to fully explore the heavy theme of family trauma it hints at. Still, the abrupt tonal shift, from what begins as a psychological family drama to a burst of violent horror, comes as an intriguing surprise. The film ends with an open-ended climax, leaving viewers to draw their own conclusions.
You can watch the film on YouTube, it’s also embedded below.