As I will be attending the Kork International Horror Film Festival this year, it was time for me to explore some Turkish films. Director/producer/film extraordinaire Buğra Mert Alkayalar reached out and offered to show me some of his works — all varying in length and theme. As I have very little experience with Turkish films, I wasn’t sure what to expect. Soon though, I found myself searching for more to feed my appetite.
Be Careful What You Say (2020)
Sometimes, a human’s life can be changed even with a tiny, little word. A dubbing artist does not pay attention to what he says in the recording studio at midnight, and eventually the ancient one wakes up. As a result, he will find himself in great horror.
Be Careful What You Say, IMDB
As the dubbing artist begrudgingly talks to himself after an intense recording session, he starts to hear whispers floating through the air. Thinking that it’s the late-night work and stress getting to him, he continues on to record. Soon, Hecate, the goddess he is recording about, takes over his body and speaks on her own. Frightened, he now realizes he has been cursed.
Soft, angry whispers and mangled hands reaching for his neck aren’t the only unsettling aspects of this short. When you’re up against an ancient, godly force, there really is no place to hide. Words have meaning, they hold power. Those who do not abide by these rules will be punished — and it doesn’t look pretty!
Passengers (2023)
One autumn night, a group of people awaits a train at a station. However, they’ve all forgotten one truth. When a young man delves into the eerie night to find his fiancée, he will remember and remind the others.
Passengers, IMDB
A noir-style, black and white short, Passengers has a striking sadness to it. From the beginning, I could guess where this was headed. The characters emote such feeling of loss, of loneliness, that I almost forgot it was a horror film until a white-eyed man shows up and promptly disappears.
Unlike Be Careful what You Say and its modern jumpscares, Passengers is a ghost story that lingers and stays in your heart, haunting it slowly and effortlessly.
And We’ve Called Them (2024)
There are certain protocols to follow for Close Encounters Five. As long as you follow them and follow them step by step you can have an effective experience.
And We’ve Called Them, Film Freeway
I have seen very few short films this… short! At just two minutes long, And We’ve Called Them is a vintage television recording intertwined with found footage about an alien encounter. With little music and mainly narration, this short is insanely creepy. Blurred faces, film distortion, the works. A deliciously delectable bite of cosmic horror and my favorite of the bunch.
With these three shorts, Buğra Mert Alkayalar has shown his expertise in horror. All of these films dove into emotions and tropes that are simultaneously very different from each other yet still belong to the same “family” (i.e., his film catalogue). Little bits of horror just small enough for a quick watch are a great way to become acquainted with the genre — as well as the filmmaker. Buğra Mert Alkayalar’s films are a fantastic introduction to Turkish horror and ones I will be coming back to during my trip (and after).
Follow Buğra Mert Alkayalar on Instagram, and check out his other films here.
