There's a dark and demented joy to watching the just over 7-minute horror short Meat Locker, an unusual beast of a film directed by Mark G. Lakatos with a screenplay from Balázs Harangozó. 

Meat Locker is the kind of film I love watching people try to explain. We're introduced quickly to an obviously expecting couple known only as Man (Dániel Illés) and Woman (also Dániel Illés). The dinner they're at seems a bit exclusive, their dinner, well, unique. As they devour, the two debate the moral grounds of eating young animals. Suddenly, the woman appears to contract and begins to realize she's about to give birth. Rushed to the hospital, this is where Meat Locker really heads into a dark and dreary direction. 

Meat Locker is beautifully and imposingly shot by Armin Rethly and features a tremendous lead performance from Illés. The hospital arrival is one that goes both absurd and incredibly dark. Every time you think "This will be it!," Meat Locker ups the ante. 

It feels a bit absurd to say that I "loved" Meat Locker, though it drew me in quickly and held my attention throughout with powerful messaging that still shines through no matter how dark the film actually goes. It's no small accomplishment to drive home a message here, however, Lakatos is adept at balancing grindhouse, body horror, and an obvious homage to the beloved Twilight Zone. 

For those who appreciate their indie horror on the more experimental end, this seven-minute Hungarian short is one not to miss if the opportunity to catch it arises. 

Written by Richard Propes
The Independent Critic