I've long been a fan of Christopher Di Nunzio's indie work and it's always a delight when yet another short crosses my desk featuring the filmmaker and members of his usual ensemble. Di Nunzio's latest short film is Spiders in the Wall, an 11-minute short film centered around Azeil Baxter (Justin Thibault, a CIA agent stuck in a nightmarish scenario where he must confront a rival spy or face his personal demons before it's too late. 

Di Nunzio tends to specialize in these darker, character-driven shorts and his ensemble knows his directorial rhythms and knows how to bring these stories to life. In this case, the story is written by Kris Salvi, a mighty fine filmmaker in his own right, whose story reportedly came about from a nightmare he had. 

There's a lot packed into a sparse 11-minute running time for Spiders in the Dark, a complex and layered film that finds Azeil, and the audience, unsure of what's real anymore and uncertain about exactly what path to take. We're absolutely sure it involves Marcy (a top-notch Kayla Caulfield), whose role is both clear and unclear if you know what I mean. 

Longtime Di Nunzio collaborator Fiore Leo is here as Leon, a character who both intrigues and whom I wish had been a bit more fleshed out. Salvi himself shows up as the mysterious "G." 

I doubt that Di Nunzio could ever make a film that didn't wholly work, however, I'll also acknowledge this one feels a bit undercooked as if it needs a little more room to breathe and an opportunity to really become immersed in Azeil's nightmare. However, if you typically click with the Di Nunzio cinematic vibe, the odds are good that you'll find yourself appreciating this latest thoughtful and intriguing effort.

Written by Richard Propes
The Independent Critic