Not every movie has to be a feature-length production, and oftentimes, the most important ones last only a few minutes. Case in point, the award-winning sci-fi thriller, Tunnelen, available via online film curation site Short of The Week. A short film in a dystopic future, Tunnelen is an almost unbearably tense situation placed in the most mundane of locations: a traffic jam.
Tunnelen is based off the short story The Tunnel, which was written by author Alice Glaser. Directed by André Øvredal (Troll Hunter), it tells the tale of a family returning home from a quick beach vacation in an overcrowded sci-fi future. Their automated vehicle approaches the city at a painstakingly slow pace, inching forward along with the throngs of other cars. The kids amuse themselves in the back seat while the parents discuss the upcoming tunnel, and the viewer's unease grows.
Tunnelen received the prestigious "Méliès d'argent" Award for being one of the top films in its genre in Europe. It was filmed entirely on a green screen in Oslo, with the only practical effect being the singular car the film focuses on.
Short of The Week curates a collection of short films on its YouTube channel. Each short film on the platform is free to watch, and there is no need to subscribe to a premium service. The platform curates a variety of short films, from LGBTQ to drama, animation, comedy, and documentaries. From the military drama Fort Irwin to the Soccer documentary The Lonely Goalkeeper there is something for everyone to enjoy and experience.
With online streaming services bursting at the seams with content, it seems that short films are often left out of the spotlight, which makes Tunnelen and outlets like Short of The Week incredibly important. Short films have the capacity to bring a strong impact within a short span of time, as well as highlight important themes to storytelling and relevant cultural subjects.
Others have been taking to the short film format to express their stories, as well as highlight the creative production value. A Polish YouTuber, OndreJkarol, returned from a hiatus to finish a new Witcher III short film with Legos. Recently, Amazon Originals released a new short film from its hit superhero show, The Boys, which focuses on Billy and the events that have occurred since the conclusion of Season 1.
Tunnelen is available to watch now for free on YouTube.
Source: YouTube