Short film

Ape

20 min

A tense, unsettling descent into trauma and violence, where past and present blur in a haunting character study.

Tagline: A conflicted teenager has his inner-violence forcibly unsheathed by his charming, hot headed older brother who turns out to be the leader of an underground cult.
Overview: Tortured by past trauma, Jonathan “JJ” Ming is haunted by visions of a dark basement where brutal violence unfolds — forearms crushing arteries, blood on teeth, skin striking skin. Amidst the chaos, one image lingers: the slanted eyes of Asian boys, staring back at him. His older brother Tommy leads him through a night of hostile encounters with drunk white men. Tommy — sharp, witty, and brutish — retaliates with violence, while JJ remains paralyzed. By dawn, JJ must confront his past or risk being buried in Tommy’s violent cult, trapped in a cycle of retribution.
How it feels: Dark, tense, bleak and earnest. Slow-burning and demanding.
About: Trauma, violence, family, identity
Content: Strong violence and language. Mild gore. No sexual content.
Note: Written by AI, so it can be wrong. Full breakdown

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