An Offer Refused

Starring: Victoria Dunn, Mphatso Mgangira, Dave Champ Moore, Alisa A. Davis
Director: Lilton Stewart III
While waiting for her friends Derrick (Moore) and Tiffany (Davis) to come over for a party, Camilla (Dunn) is visited by a mysterious salesman named Mtoza Roho (Mgangira) with an offer. Will she refuse or will she accept? Either way, her answer will have life altering consequences.
More often than you might realize, short films are the jumping off point for many feature length films. One that jumps to mind is Mama, which was seen by Guillermo del Toro and given the financial backing to expand, I really hope that is the case here, as there is a strong mythology to build off of and Mtoza Roho could become a new face of terror for audiences.
After I saw Stewart's previous short Break Free, I declared he was a talent to watch. With his next short, he has further solidified this belief. Switching genres to folk horror, Stewart has such a command of the material it's hard to not be impressed with how easily he weaves this tale. Simple things, like a character who wasn't there originally suddenly appearing in the backseat of a car or Roho silently following characters in a house, feel natural and more terrifying the way that Stewart has ratcheted up the tension up to that point. It shouldn't work as well as it does.

I mentioned that there was a strong mythology present and I love that Stewart, who also wrote the script and edited, keeps much of it hidden from the audience. Little bits and pieces are there for viewers to pick up on but from its ominous opening to its clever ending, he wisely leaves us wanting more.
I also want to make note of the effects, which are very well done for what I would assume is a low budget. The film opens and closes with a looming red sky and the fates of some of the characters are done in surprisingly gruesome detail.
While I did enjoy the characters and their banter, I would have liked to get to know them a little more before their respective fates. I like that Stewart hit the ground running but I think getting to know them better would have helped understand their choices more and affect the viewer more. It's honestly a minor quibble though as there is a lot to digest and enjoy.
Stewart once again proves he is not only an incredible film maker but he has a firm grasp on several genres. I enjoyed this folk horror short and I can't wait to see what he tackles next (hopefully a feature!)
Grade: B+
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