Michael Kehoe, the writer and director, has definitely pulled out all the stops with HUSH. Mr Kehoe has put together, along with his team (see below for full cast and crew), a stunning six and a half minute horror short.
Mr Kehoe had originally planned for HUSH to be made into a feature length film, however, due to budgeting issues at the time, this wasn't possible (although hopefully this will still happen in the future). After being convinced by a friend to change it into a short and enter HUSH into the film festivals, Mr Kehoe was amazed with the amount of success which HUSH has achieved.
To date, HUSH, Mr Kehoe and the crew have won twenty two awards. They include, but are not limited to, Best Short Film at Los Angeles Art-House Film Festival, First Place in the Audience Awards: Bloody Shorts Film Festival (Online) and Gold Winner at the Independant International Film Festival.
At the Zedfest Film Festival in Burbank, California HUSH walked away with a long list of awards: Best Short Film, Best Director, Best Actress, Best Cinematography, Best Producer, Best Special Effects, Best Visual Effects, Best Screenplay, Best Make Up, Best Supernatural Film, Best Fright and Best Ending.
HUSH is lined up for many more festivals, including the British Horror Film Festival. Here's hoping to many more wins.
Mr Kehoe had originally planned for HUSH to be made into a feature length film, however, due to budgeting issues at the time, this wasn't possible (although hopefully this will still happen in the future). After being convinced by a friend to change it into a short and enter HUSH into the film festivals, Mr Kehoe was amazed with the amount of success which HUSH has achieved.
To date, HUSH, Mr Kehoe and the crew have won twenty two awards. They include, but are not limited to, Best Short Film at Los Angeles Art-House Film Festival, First Place in the Audience Awards: Bloody Shorts Film Festival (Online) and Gold Winner at the Independant International Film Festival.
At the Zedfest Film Festival in Burbank, California HUSH walked away with a long list of awards: Best Short Film, Best Director, Best Actress, Best Cinematography, Best Producer, Best Special Effects, Best Visual Effects, Best Screenplay, Best Make Up, Best Supernatural Film, Best Fright and Best Ending.
HUSH is lined up for many more festivals, including the British Horror Film Festival. Here's hoping to many more wins.
My Reaction and Review
When I was approached and in contact with Mr Kehoe, he advised me to watch the horror short, in the dark with good sound. Obviously this was to add to the atmosphere. I am not ashamed to admit, that after about two and a half minutes, I had to put the light on. Watching it in the dark was too much for me. I knew that I had to watch it until the end, but really couldn't face any more in the dark.
I am a huge fan of horrors and thrillers, especially those falling within the independent and low-budget categories. I have found out over the past few months, that a lot of the lower budget and independent films turn out to be the best on the market.
I have only recently began an interest in short films, due to a friend of mine that is completing a media course, and has been making his own short films for a few months now.
Anyone that knows me, knows of my obsession with horror films, and also how difficult it is to find a good one. One that really creeps me out. HUSH did the job. If a short film can manage to freak out a seasoned horror viewer in under three minutes, where are all the other horrors films going wrong?!?! A lot of this has to do with the setting, sound and cinematography. For a film to work, especially in a horror genre, not only does it need to have a good storyline (which HUSH does by the way, you will not be disappointed) but it needs to be able to match the story in all other aspects.
The setting of HUSH, the house, is decidedly creepy on it's own. If I were to live in that house, I'm not sure I would be able to sleep easily at night. I do not claim to be an expert, or even have a great deal of knowledge, in cinematography but I can tell you that the photographic and editing team got this right. It has the perfect balance between the lighting and the sound to make you feel like there is something eerie going to happen.
The child actress in HUSH does a fantastic job, Riley Connor does have her own IMDb page. HUSH is her first professional acting job, but I have a feeling she may go on to do great things in the future. Another first acting appearance in HUSH is Alexandra Grace (IMDb). Alexandra has already gone on to direct her own short film called Moon People.
My last thoughts on HUSH are that I hope, in the future, Mr Kehoe and his team do manage to turn this into the feature film of his original dreams. Big congratulations on the win and thank you for allowing me to review it.
I am a huge fan of horrors and thrillers, especially those falling within the independent and low-budget categories. I have found out over the past few months, that a lot of the lower budget and independent films turn out to be the best on the market.
I have only recently began an interest in short films, due to a friend of mine that is completing a media course, and has been making his own short films for a few months now.
Anyone that knows me, knows of my obsession with horror films, and also how difficult it is to find a good one. One that really creeps me out. HUSH did the job. If a short film can manage to freak out a seasoned horror viewer in under three minutes, where are all the other horrors films going wrong?!?! A lot of this has to do with the setting, sound and cinematography. For a film to work, especially in a horror genre, not only does it need to have a good storyline (which HUSH does by the way, you will not be disappointed) but it needs to be able to match the story in all other aspects.
The setting of HUSH, the house, is decidedly creepy on it's own. If I were to live in that house, I'm not sure I would be able to sleep easily at night. I do not claim to be an expert, or even have a great deal of knowledge, in cinematography but I can tell you that the photographic and editing team got this right. It has the perfect balance between the lighting and the sound to make you feel like there is something eerie going to happen.
The child actress in HUSH does a fantastic job, Riley Connor does have her own IMDb page. HUSH is her first professional acting job, but I have a feeling she may go on to do great things in the future. Another first acting appearance in HUSH is Alexandra Grace (IMDb). Alexandra has already gone on to direct her own short film called Moon People.
My last thoughts on HUSH are that I hope, in the future, Mr Kehoe and his team do manage to turn this into the feature film of his original dreams. Big congratulations on the win and thank you for allowing me to review it.
The full crew can be viewed on the HUSH website using the button above
Writer & Director: Michael Kehoe
Producers: Michael Kehoe & Tommy Harper
Executive Producers: Tommy Frazier & Howie Young
Director of Photography: John Connor
Editor: Michael Trent
Associate Producers: Kira Halling & Lisa Minzey
The Cast
Regan - Alexandra Grace
Irene - Riley Connor
Alice "The Monster" Sears - Kira Halling
Follow HUSH Feature Film on Facebook and Twitter using the buttons below (I have it on good faith from Mr Kehoe that they have a big surprise coming soon)
Writer & Director: Michael Kehoe
Producers: Michael Kehoe & Tommy Harper
Executive Producers: Tommy Frazier & Howie Young
Director of Photography: John Connor
Editor: Michael Trent
Associate Producers: Kira Halling & Lisa Minzey
The Cast
Regan - Alexandra Grace
Irene - Riley Connor
Alice "The Monster" Sears - Kira Halling
Follow HUSH Feature Film on Facebook and Twitter using the buttons below (I have it on good faith from Mr Kehoe that they have a big surprise coming soon)
All information used with the permission of Mr Michael Kehoe, via Twitter and Email exchange. Everything contained here has come from either Mr Kehoe himself, or the HUSH website.