NOV 20-21, 2026
‘Amber’ Review: A Gritty, Blood-Red Chase With a Final Turn You Won’t See Coming
Elisha Christopher Cecil and Jaren Hemphill deliver a sharp, visually aggressive horror short that turns a familiar cat-and-mouse setup into something far more unsettling.
Amber starts in darkness.
Before we properly see anything, we hear a struggle taking place against a black screen. It is an immediate and effective way to pull the audience in, creating tension before the film reveals where we are or what exactly has happened.
Then the image arrives, and the cinematography takes control.
Light falls beautifully through the apartment, smoke drifts across the frame, and every shot feels carefully prepared. The film has a gritty, saturated look that perfectly matches its violent atmosphere. It is rough, stylish and cinematic without ever feeling artificial.
The story follows Amber, a woman being stalked by a ruthless killer. The setup is simple, but the filmmakers understand that a chase film depends on more than movement. It depends on mood, anticipation and the feeling that danger may already be closer than the character realizes.
Bianca Kumpis gives Amber the right combination of fear, urgency and determination. Sean Willets is genuinely disturbing as the Red String Killer, creating an intimidating presence even when the film gives us only brief glimpses of him.
One of the most effective moments comes inside the car. Red light fills the frame, immediately suggesting danger, while the camera creates the feeling that Amber may not be alone. When the figure appears behind her, the image is deeply unnerving. He does not simply look threatening; he looks like the kind of person you never want to discover in the back seat of your car.
Another standout shot uses the killer’s sunglasses to reveal a reflected image. It is a small visual idea, but it is executed with style and confidence. Moments like this show how carefully the framing has been considered throughout the film.
The Dutch angles are also used extremely well. They never feel random or included only to make the film look strange. Instead, they add to the instability of Amber’s world and make even ordinary locations feel dangerous.
The close-ups of the ground, including the worms, add another layer of discomfort. These details give the film a dirty, physical atmosphere and suggest decay long before the ending reveals where the story is really going.
Sound design is one of the short’s strongest elements. The opening struggle, the movement through the apartment, the car sequence and the quieter pauses all create a constant sense of threat. The music works alongside the sound rather than competing with it, increasing the tension at exactly the right moments.
The editing is equally sharp. Ambe moves quickly, but it never feels rushed. The cuts are precise, and the visual rhythm keeps the audience alert throughout its seven-minute runtime.
Most importantly, the ending completely changes the direction of the film.
Without giving anything away, it is safe to say that the final reveal is not what the audience expects. The filmmakers take the familiar image of a helpless victim and push it into a much darker and more satisfying place. It is shocking, clever and wonderfully cruel.
Even the final credits are beautifully designed, maintaining the visual identity of the film until the very last frame.
Selected for the Los Angeles Fantasy Fest 2026, Ambe is a stylish, intense and genuinely creepy horror short. Its cinematography, sound, performances and unexpected ending make it an exciting piece of genre filmmaking — and an inspiring watch for horror fans who appreciate filmmakers willing to take a familiar idea and twist the knife.
Production Details
Directors: Elisha Christopher Cecil and Jaren Hemphill
Writers: Elisha Christopher Cecil and Jaren Hemphill
Producers: Jaren Hemphill and Jacob Carnes
Cast: Bianca Kumpis, Sean Willets and Delaney Lannon
Country: United States
Language: English
Year: 2024
Runtime: 7 minutes 21 seconds
Genres: Horror, noir, thriller
Format: Digital, color, 16:9
Production: ArtCenter College of Design
By Darwin Reina 26 July 2026
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