By 
★★★★
Starring: #JayJayJegathesan and #MiraeJang
Directed by: #PeterRenzullo
Short Film Review by: Alexandra James
Isabella is a short film directed by Peter Renzullo, the story is disturbing, intense and dark and stars Jay Jay Jegathesan who was made for this role and had previously been in another one of Renzullo’s films The Jewel Wasp. Watching his performance, he seemed like the perfect choice to make for this sinister film and certainly intensified the scene with his story of an emerald wasp and a helpless cockroach. Isabella is unfortunately seated opposite Khan and must endure this uncomfortable tale, but what exactly is the relationship between the two?
The scene opens to Khan sitting in a dark suit across from Isabella. At this stage we do not know what Isabella looks like, the audience can merely hear her voice responding to Khan as he begins to tell her a story. There is an ominous air to Khan, the room appears cold and his presence even colder. With just a table in between him and Isabella and his words, the film is very powerful. Instantly, I became hooked on his every word and although disturbed by the story as he describes the calculating and detailed torture that an emerald wasp performs on a cockroach, it was hard to look away. His voice is low and dark and as he tells the story, you begin to feel slightly concerned for poor Isabella and worry for her safety!
It’s not until the final scene that we discover why Isabella is there, her calm response to Khan really throws the audience off the scent and it becomes shocking when we finally get a glimpse of her. The sounds of cockroaches and insects can occasionally be heard as Khan is speaking which makes your skin crawl and your fear heighten. Its interesting to see the different ways in which directors can tell a story. There have been some short films where there is no dialogue throughout, and the storyline is followed by facial cues and imagery. Or there are films such as this, where we are not shown much, and the sound of someone’s voice carries the film and drives the storyline. I am a fan of all types of storytelling, if it can really convey that message and entices the viewer from the offset.
Isabella has certainly achieved this; Khan’s dark and mysterious tale of horrors was one that I cannot shake. The performance of Jay Jay Jegathesan was a perfect cast for this role and took the film to a very sinister place. The slow pans and long takes, added to the eeriness of the film and made for an uncomfortable watch, forced to listen and endure much like Isabella. Dark and sinister but a great performance and very well written, keeping the audience hanging onto every word.
