One of the fun things about the horror community is all the people you get to meet and share your passion with. While talking to someone about your favourite films is fun, talking to someone about your favourite horror films adds an extra level of knowing smiles and nods to the conversation. Horror is scary, horror is disturbing but, most of all, horror is a lot of fun.

Which is clearly the ethos behind BROKE N’ HEARTLESS VIDEO and their return to a basic, analogue movie making experience.

Who?

Good question…

Recently I had the privilege of watching one of their short films and wanted to share my experience while pointing you in the direction of their website so you can find out more about them and what they are up to.

But how did I hear about BROKE N’ HEARTLESS VIDEO?

Well, it’s been nearly a year since I visited my first horror festival, Screams by the Sea down in sunny Bournemouth where I began a journey with a new bunch of horror nerds to add to my collection. What was special about that weekend last March, after you factor out my (shameless self-promotion) screenplay competition win, was meeting festival director Radi and the Screams team. Since then, I’ve been following them on various social media platforms (in a totally non-creepy way) and was delighted to join their recently created “Screaming Hour” horror film group watch on DISCORD. We have been meeting every other week to watch various horror classics and treats since November last year.

Anyway, back to the Screaming Hour, and we’ve made it through 5 films so far. From classics like Hellraiser through to nightmare inducing experiences like Possession it has been great fun and each film is passionately introduced by horror nut Wynn Wallace who also happens to be part of the BROKE N’ HEARTLESS VIDEO collective.

See?

Full circle!

Did I tell you I am a writer?

For each Screaming Hour, Wyn provides an insight into the film on the slate for that evening, tells us what we can expect, and encourages discussion about the feature to help put a Letterboxd review together for the Screams by the Sea page. It’s not for anyone who wants total silence when watching a movie, but that is part of the enjoyment, being able to share a passion with other fans and have a lot of fun while doing it.

And, as you do while chatting about horror stuff, Wyn offered to share a screener for one of his latest shorts, “The Complete Package.”

Free horror shorts?

Yes please.

In this found-footage analogue horror short, a 1980s tele-dating tape is not what it seems…

In the short, three lonely hearts from the 80s promote themselves in suitably cheesy fashion on a collection of scratchy VHS recordings in a desperate attempt to meet the partner of their dreams. Curiously, the videos focus on health and fitness, each of our “options” talking about how important a healthy lifestyle is for them but with a slight edge of superiority. It feels like performative fitness, rather than healthy fitness – one can only assume that whoever is watching them really values the leanness of Mark and the tenderness of Kitty. After their hollow pleas for companionship, a message tells the viewers that these wannabe lovers can “be all yours” before cutting to scene that shows the truth behind this dating service and that slightly sinister message.

The whole thing is done in under 8 minutes but tells a sad and disturbing tale about our dreamers. Shot in a wonderfully analogue style it really captures the spirit of the 80s, from the fashion to the music and the horror credentials it bares in the second half. And it was produced with a budget of just £600 which is pretty damned impressive to be fair. I don’t want to say too much as I don’t want to spoil it, but it was agreat watch and suggests that BROKE N’ HEARTLESS VIDEO have a lot to offer.

Indeed, their debut feature, CRIT! Cyber Party Massacre is due this year.

Written by Wyn and Matt Miles, it is also directed by Wyn and should offer plenty more low budget horror fun and games. You can check out the movie over on the CRIT Instagram pages where you will also find a teaser trailer. Anything that offers an “unstoppable killing machine” has got to be worth a look? So what are you waiting for? Check it out. I, for one, am looking forward to seeing how it all turns out.

And, while we wait for Wyn’s movie, we can look forward to the next Screaming Hour with our new Screams by the Sea buddies. What could be better than watching cool horror films and chatting about them with friends?

You can see more of what BROKE N’ HEARTLESS VIDEO have been getting up to over on their Patreon (you can follow for free) as well as on YouTube . While the Complete Package has already been screened at SPASM, GRINDFEST and the BUT Film Festival you still have a chance to catch it as it will be showing at Screams by the Sea this year in one of the short film showcases. Festival passes are on sale now and you can check out the Festival Trailer below….and if you get the urge, you can read a bit more about my experiences at the festival last year HERE.