Making a solid horror-comedy isn't easy. Some might argue it is the hardest genre pairing to create since both the feelings of laughter and fear are so subjective. While there are some universal fears and jokes, many horror comedies fall victim to being more of one than the other, even some of the best! Not to be turned away by a challenge, writer, and director Rene Rivas has found a happy medium between the two in his newest short horror film, "Rejected". "Rejected" capitalizes on the zeitgeist by firmly planting itself in the 90s through slick editing and production design while also demonstrating just how silly some of the tech we used to see as "cutting edge" actually is. All the while, Rivas maintains a firm footing in the world of horror making this anthology highly entertaining and innovative.
The concept of "Rejected" is delightful in its simplicity. A series of rejected commercials for a new defunct camera made by the fictitious Sonu corporation each demonstrate how the camera could be used, but with some diabolical endings ensuing. Although there are only three commercials, four if you include the wrap-around with Bob Dergns and Sharron Nelson, each feels wholly contained as a singular narrative. Each one is a different flavor of sub-genre presented on screen to suggest the horrific ways in which the Sonu Mavico is implicated in the terrible situations it is meant to "capture" the moment. While we won't go into spoilers, it is safe to say that there is something for everyone's taste in the segments contained within "Rejected". While all the stories are punctuated by horror, they all have some level of humor ranging from the broad to the very niche and direct. What makes "Rejected" work so well is that the humor doesn't feel forced is germane to the situation and pivots accordingly based on the context of the segment. Suffice it to say what you find funny in the second segment isn't the same in the third segment yet they both work well concerning their segment. It is perhaps what most horror comedies miss most about the assignment, using the right kind of humor with a certain kind of horror to get the best possible reaction.
The strength of "Rejected" goes beyond the efficient storytelling and editing and extends into the production design. It can be a faux pas these days to use digital to make your film look more analog, and with "Rejected" Rivas has found interesting and effective ways of immersing the viewer in the period the film encapsulates. From the fashion to the ambient noises of old Macintosh computers, everything is accounted for with impeccable attention to detail. The same can be said of the use of practical effects which showcase not just how much can be done on a small budget, but also a testament to the ingenuity of independent filmmaking to curate gore and effects as good or better than some of their studio peers. "Rejected" doesn't hold back from getting gross, but also doesn't skimp on quality so you aren't taken out of the moment due to bad or lazy use of effects. The slickness of the effects and strategic use of digital filler make the case that the best outcomes are ones born through using the tools available appropriately to create the best possible effect, and "Rejected" has that in spades.
