Horror doesn’t have to involve a monster hiding in the darkness. It could be as simple as an argument with a loved one. But when two individuals with a sorted past come together again, the forest reveals all. Jonjo Lyons’ Better Anything is a look inside a tumultuous relationship gone awry.
Following one bloody night, estranged couple Alice and Tommy venture deep into the woods. There, Alice watches Tommy dig, as they bicker over the horrors of their relationship. Harsh truths and heart-breaking revelations lead to a violent conclusion that will change both their lives forever.
Better Anything
Any time you see someone digging a giant hole in the woods, it can’t be for anything good. Clearly this is the case with Alice (Abigail Hardingham) and Tommy (Benjamin O’Mahony). As they argue about everything from small inconveniences to actual crimes, no one takes responsibility — instead, they constantly blame each other, just as they had been doing the entirety of their failed relationship. Soon we see that Tommy is injured, and as Better Anything reaches its climax, all is revealed and we are left with the realization of what that hole was being dug for.
As a short, Better Anything excels at writing, leaving little snippets of story and dialog for the audience to piece together for a full situation. While there is the sentiment that films should “show, not tell,” Better Anything is the opposite; this works because we are brought into the argument itself, and we become part of the story.
The little bit of violence we do get only amplifies the heated discussions between Alice and Tommy. There is definitely blood drawn and it is very realistic. Better Anything doesn’t embellish the violence with over-the-top theatrics. It is not subtle, but it leaves ample room for the overwhelming weight of the situation to shine.
At just over 12 minutes, Better Anything shines a spotlight on the bad parts of the human condition. These two love each other, but are not good for each other in the slightest. Like magnets, they are two of the same, yet they repel each other so much that it ends in tragedy.
Check out Better Anything and more from writer/director Jonjo Lyons on YouTube and Instagram.
