KILLING TIME | Omeleto
54,161
Published 2023-05-03
KILLING TIME is used with permission from P. Patrick Hogan. Learn more at jhdanger.com/.
Cindy is a physicist out for a run. She's been awaiting the results of her latest experiment, which involves the ability to fold space-time. As she runs in the woods, she attracts the attention of a mysterious figure lurking in the woods.
When she comes home, she gets into an argument with her father, who is also a scientist, and whose work Cindy has built upon. Her father urges her to abandon the experiment, saying her obsession with it will ruin her life. But Cindy persists, though its results force her to reckon with the decisions of the past.
Directed and written by P. Patrick Hogan, this short sci-fi drama leverages its ability to build tension and create suspense, drawing in viewers into a story that questions the limits of human knowledge and how far we should go to pursue ideas and capacities beyond our understanding. While its subject matter is scientific and speculative, the film itself functions mainly as a mix of family drama and suspense thriller, beginning with the tracking of a mysterious figure in the woods that itself is watching a woman closely. It follows her back home, where we assume it lies in wait for the perfect moment.
True to the cinematic language of the thriller genre, the musical score is tense, the cinematography and camera are shadowy and eerie and the editing builds a sense of anticipation. But then the film settles into another mode, as Cindy and her father debate over the experiment and the possible test results that she's waiting for. The possibility of time travel would change everything, and Cindy doesn't question the drive to unlock the secrets of space-time. But her father, whose work she is building on, urges her to stop, saying that perhaps there are some things that human beings aren't meant to know or do.
Actors Maggie McCollester and Lowell Dean trade points back and forth, and it becomes clear that Cindy is more driven -- almost to the point of obsession -- to unlock the experiment than sift through its moral and ethical ramifications. Her father can't change her mind, despite pointing to their ruined marriages and fractured family lives as evidence that such single-minded zealous pursuit has its cost. It's at that point that the elusive dark figure makes its move, pulling the film into an entirely different direction -- and Cindy's fate as well.
With the buildup of tension, the denouement of KILLING TIME could easily escalate into violence or confrontation, but as it unfolds, we see it is the work of addressing past mistakes, righting previous wrongs and saving what's most precious in life, while at the same time acknowledging that arguments about science, ethics and knowledge are complicated and tangled ones to unravel. We can test the limits and capacities of human knowledge, but is it wise when we still haven't mastered the ethical and emotional capacities we already have? There are no answers except maybe in hindsight, though it's tempting to believe we can remedy those if we could.
All Comments (21)
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This was a good one on so many layers! Had to rewatch it twice to get all the little details. So their research worked! In the past her daughter dies in a car crash (that's why she knew what was going to happen "it's gonna rain..... he's gonna lose control and you are both going to...." couldn't finish the sentence, because she knows the outcome), look at how she reacts when her daughter comes in the room, so overly happy (trying to hide her reaction from her daughter) and relieved to see her alive again and her little laugh when daughter goes to her room and slams the door. Her father I am sure also dies (he allowed the daughter to go to see the movie with bf and she died, he says "Well I'm sorry I told her yes earlier... I couldn't live with myself if she got hurt.." the woman replies "I know you COULDN'T.." indicating he might have passed away shortly after her daughter died). Also she (she who traveled from the future) learned how to love and appreciate her father, look at her annoyed facial expression and reaction when he came in the first time, and look at (other) her when he comes in again. ALSO I think I am pretty sure in fact, her father FIGURED OUT it was his daughter from the future, not only she looks slightly older, glasses, more grey hair, etc. but towards the end of their conversation he knows! He knows it worked, but she made that one decision to come back just in time to change the tragic outcome, and then WALK AWAY from the research forever, just as what he said he couldn't do and what "destroyed" HIS life. Plus he gets all teary eyed and says how proud he is of her and that he loves her. SO she basically knew nothing good is going to come out of this time travel, but still used it just this one time to change the negative outcome and then be done with it.
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Thank you everyone. We hope you enjoyed our short film, KILLING TIME, and thank you to Omeleto for hosting it on YouTube. This is our second short film to be hosted by Omeleto and we appreciate everyone's support of indie filmmaking and short films in general. Thank you!
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Super proud to have written the score for this amazing film. Couldn't be happier to have worked with such an amazing director, actors and team of filmmakers. Hope you all enjoy and thank you for watching! Thank you Omeleto!
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When success at the end of the day means digging your own grave, putting yourself in and covering it over...you are in one tough career field.
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Very proud to have been the Director of Photography on this smart, exciting and heartfelt film. From the moment Maggie got the script, I knew I wanted to do whatever I could to help bring Patrick's vision to life and let Maggie's powerful acting shine through. With all the powerful performances, Patrick's great directing and editing, and the fantastic score, you can feel the passion and creativity come through with every viewing. Congrats to all and thank you to Omeleto for showcasing this great film.
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Congratulations, “Killing Time” team! So proud of our work together to create this great film. Such a compelling story by P. Patrick Hogan. Beautiful cinematography by Hamish McCollester. Love that soundtrack by Christy Carew. Fellow actors move me every time – Lowell Dean and McKinley Warren. Thank you to our excellent producers Ana Krista Johnson and Sharon Gytri, and our whole production team, as well as post-production team! And huge thanks to Omeleto for hosting our film here alongside such quality work by other indie filmmakers! Cheers to All!
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This story was great. It really hit me as my son passed away this year and the biggest thought when I lost him was did he know how proud I was of him.
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now imagine if it didn't rain and it disproved her theory. so she killed an alternate version that wouldn't have suffered the same loss she had.
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Probably my 3rd time seeing this and every time I'm so engrossed in the exchange between the father and daughter at the end! Did the dad realize she's not the same daughter? Oh and that scene where the dead mom gets put in the grave and the rain starts falling...soooooo good! Love, love, love this!!
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A tight script, strong performances - especially Maggie in the lead, atmospheric cinematography, and the pacing was spot-on. Loved that it tricked me into thinking it was horror then it morphed into a sci-fi thriller with heart. Well done!
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Many videos have the comment that the story is well told and well shot without needing any special effects. This is the first video I've seen that moved me to explicitly share such a comment.
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I came here with zero expectation, thinking it was just another horror-thriller shorts. Turns out, it also touches on never-ending grievance. The main actress played her part so well, her reaction is very natural, either she's sad, afraid or relieved Tampering the time might lead to another unwanted consequences, but I'm glad the writer abandoned this aspect, so we could focus on her grievance only. While the story is touching, I was surprised with the murder scene, as the kill like this is done off-screen or briefly on-screen. It's possibly one of the best kills ever. Well done for those everyone involved !
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The fathers formula was correct...She was replaced by a more advanced self...saving the life of her own daughter for starters!
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What an amazing short film! My brother and I love catching the new ones Omeleto hosts, and this one is certainly one of my new favorites. The cinematography was gorgeous and very engaging throughout, congratulations to the entire team on a job very well done. Not to mention the actors, making an entire story come alive in between the lines - truly inspiring work to watch!
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Beautiful movie❤ I believe it was Dad who knew it all from the first "time loop" that is why he did everything to warn her(may be even not "first her"). He'd figured how this stuff worked and could stop at one point personally and tried over and over again to convince her not to open this Pandorabox. That scarf or bandana must be hiding a "tool" that could finally convince his daughter to close it back. Who knows😅 only those super talented guys behind our screens plus a bit of our imagination 😊
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Sooooo good!!! The cinematography was insane. The image of the rain hitting the cheeks of the dead body and then the dirt covering the face were amazing. And...Maggie McCollester killed it!
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Great story and execution. Definately one of the best shorts i watched in long time.
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So proud to be viewer of this beautiful film. Thank you Omeleto! 😄
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Job well done! I thoroughly enjoyed "Killing Time." I loved the soundtrack , the cinematography and especially the script. Unlike other films with a time travel plot, what makes Killing Time so enjoyable to me is how all the answers as to what is happening in the story is skillfully woven in the dialogue itself and can easily be missed if you are multi-tasking as you watch this film. Only by listening carefully to the dialogue are you then able to put the cerebral puzzle together in order to understand what you just watched, along with the excitement of discovering all that is revealed in the dialogue. I appreciate the wonderful journey I was taken on as I watched this film. Continued success to JahnHog Danger Productions.
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What a fascinating premise which leaves me with so many questions! It's also astounding that SO MUCH is told in such a short amount of time. Brilliant filmmaking, storytelling and acting. So much attention to detail and the location is ideal for this script. LOVED IT. Watched it tonight for the second time and want to congratulate my brilliant friends Maggie and Hamish McCollester. What a talented pair. Congrats to EVERYONE!
