Oh my goodness I can feel the awkwardness oozing from this Panic Fest short. And ooze might be the right word to use here, because Itch deals with a situation that turns out to be more inelegant than a second date — and more gross and horrifying than the “infection” this poor woman is subject to.
Suspecting she’s caught something other than feelings from their first rendezvous, Jules arrives for a second date at the home of the awkward but charming Thomas, until a strange phone call sends the evening spiraling out of her control.
Itch, IMDB
He was a boy. She was a girl. And together, they have one night that turns from budding love to the desperate urge to escape when Jules realizes that Thomas has done something unspeakable. Besides reading the synopsis above, Jules gives hints that something is very wrong. She acts as expected for a second date, but she is drinking cranberry juice (often used to treat UTIs), looking out for phone calls from her physician, and using Thomas’ mouthwash while pretending to use the bathroom. She finds a generously-used anti-fungal cream there, which puts her slightly on edge; but when she finally does receive an urgent call about the results from her latest doctor visit, she spirals and tries to find an escape. Thomas may not be the sweet man she thought he was.
Itch really scratched that need for some truly gross horror for me. In 10 minutes, I went from smiling to audibly gasping and yelling at my screen for her to find a way out. And I’m glad this was a short, because I don’t know if I could handle a full 90 minutes of this. By the end of the short, Itch has you covering your mouth to stifle a scream.
But if you manage to look past the obvious disgusting plot point, Itch is actually quite pretty to look at. Doused in evening darkness and lit to perfection, the short knows what to show and what to hide in the shadows. Thomas lingers in the hallway as he explains he lives with his mother, the shadows seemingly blocking his full intent. The dark room upstairs makes it hard to see the hundreds of air freshener trees dangling from the ceiling. The fluorescent bathroom light is a mild antiseptic to Jules’ budding problem. The soft lighting makes the dinner table sparkle in opposition to the very much troubling situation they find themselves in later. Itch‘s lighting is a high point and shouldn’t be overshadowed by the plot (pun intended).
Itch made me feel gross. It made me feel sick. And it made me feel a rush of horror that had me all the more excited for what was to come. It is easy enough to make gross-out horror that shows every pus-filled, blackened, oozing wound, but Itch‘s reserved stance on storytelling was more than enough to make a lasting impression.
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