Sometimes, it's the simplest story that has the most powerful impact. With only a nine minute short film, writer/director John McGovern maximizes his impact with the simple yet deliciously dark tale of Jason (Jay Harris), who discovers that his best friend Brian (Matthew Kelly) is in the early stages of a relationship with his ex-girlfriend, Anna (Aislinn Ni Uallachain). Instead of coming to terms with it, Jason decides to exact his revenge. 

Rotten Apple is all about mood and McGovern does a terrific job of taking a quick slice of life and making it have maximum impact while playing out on the big screen. Rather than playing for too much drama, the film has a nice weaving together of both comedy and dramatic touches with a thread of darkness that ties it all together. The film's ensemble cast is certainly up to the task of pulling off a scene that feels incredibly normal until we realize that it's not quite normal. 

Tech credits are solid throughout the film including Peadar O'Briain's lensing and Niall Creaven's nicely nuanced original score. Rotten Apple is just beginning its festival run and should have no problem finding a spot on the indie and horror fest circuit. While there's no real gore to speak of, the film's darkly comical touches will serve as a nice companion for a festival programmer in search of some lighter touches. 

© Written by Richard Propes 
The Independent Critic