Sneha Jaiswal (Twitter | Instagram)
Three friends are just chilling, getting high, and watching Yuzuru Hanyu figure skate when one of them realizes her Tinder date is watching her through the apartment window. Their fun night takes a creepy turn thanks to his eerie presence in the short film ‘Versace Softboi’.
Directed by Charlie Gillette and Sarah Metcalf, ‘Versace Sofboi‘ opens with protagonist Alex (Charlie Gillette) flirtatiously texting Sam (Christian Elán Ortiz), a former Versace model who took her out on two dates. Her close friends Em (Wesley Han) and Cleo (Becky Granger) are eager to hear more about the mysterious new fling, until things take a strange turn. Alex becomes convinced that Sam is sitting outside her building, texting her. And well, that’s just creepy, isn’t it?!
Just about 13 minutes long, ‘Versace Sofboi‘ is a quick psychological thriller exploring how the three friends react to the possibility of Alex’s tinder date stalking her. While the sassy Em thinks Alex is probably just being paranoid, Cleo is more co-operative. Although in a touching scene that highlights their close friendship, all the of them sleep huddled together in the hall, just in case the stalker situation gets out of hand. The tone of the film plays like a dark comedy, mixing dating mishaps, online flirting, and the uneasy feeling that something just isn’t right.
The climax ends with an open-ended cliffhanger, leaving the conclusion up to the viewer’s imagination. Christian Elán Ortiz strikes the right balance of charm and creepiness as the potentially psychotic date, while Charlie Gillette’s Alex is relatable to anyone who’s had a promising date spiral into a freak show. Wesley Han is entertaining as the cheeky Em, more interested in getting high and avoiding problems than confronting them. Ultimately, it’s the banter between the trio of friends that stands out as the most enjoyable part of this short film.
You can watch ‘Versace Sofboi‘ on YouTube.
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