The Blue Drum

"The Blue Drum" (2022) is a short film that attempts to create a haunting and atmospheric experience, but ultimately falls short of its potential. While it boasts some intriguing visuals and sound design, the narrative feels underdeveloped and leaves the viewer with more questions than answers.

The film follows Leticia, a young woman grappling with the recent death of her father and the mysterious circumstances surrounding her mother's disappearance. The atmosphere is effectively eerie, with the use of shadows and sound creating a sense of unease. The performance of Crystal Hernandez as Leticia is commendable, conveying her character's vulnerability and determination.

However, the film's narrative feels rushed and lacks clarity. The central mystery surrounding the blue drum and its connection to Leticia's family remains largely unexplained, leaving the viewer feeling unsatisfied. The ending, while attempting to be impactful, feels abrupt and lacks a sense of closure.

While "The Blue Drum" demonstrates potential with its atmospheric visuals and sound design, its underdeveloped narrative and unsatisfying conclusion prevent it from being a truly compelling short film. It feels like a missed opportunity to explore a more profound and engaging story.

I started watching this on my nice Samsung TV that sounds great no matter what I stream on it. Unfortunately the dialogue was muffled, and if I turned up the volume enough to actually hear what they were saying, then the other sounds were way too loud. Did they have pillows over the mics??

To give this the benefit of the doubt, halfway through I switched to the Netflix app on my iPhone + my fancy earbuds. This was no better. I could seriously record better quality audio on my phone - as I assume we all could. What the heck? Ultimately not worth a watch or a listen IMO.

I already see that some other reviewers did not have the same experience, so YMMV. I hope you have better luck than I did!

I don't watch short films that often, and thanks to "The Blue Drum" I was reminded why that is. Feature films are ideal for creating a context, building a story, and providing the characters with a background and personalities. Short films are too short for this, and mini-series often too tedious. I'm sure there is a potentially strong story behind the bond between main character Letitia and her deceased father, and good reasons for the strained relationship between her and fiancé Ruben. But we won't find out, because there is no time for a decent explanation. And yet.... This short film only lasts for 17 minutes, but still manages to be boring and pointless for 15 minutes. There are only tame dialogues and useless images of Letitia staring at a door. The titular "Blue Drum" only appears 2 minutes before the end. Admittedly, these are the two best minutes of the film, but it is still not enough.

Can't hear anything, have to turn the sound WAY up, and when you do, everything sounds muffled. Sounds like they used a potato for a microphone. Couldn't get through more than 5 minutes of this 11 minute short because I was annoyed that I couldn't hear/understand most of what was being said... Also, I am not elderly, so personal hearing is not the issue here.

The acting seemed decent in the first few minutes I saw, but the sound effects would sound far away for something that happened supposedly near where people were interacting/talking, resulting in mis-matched sound-levels in the film as well.

A young woman , front to the expressions of not exactly simpathy of her aunt for the late brother and the desire of her boyfrient to help her, discovers, after the funeral of her father, a terible secret about family past.

A photo album, a sound under floor, a door and the message from her mother are basic pieces of a night not exactly comfortable but, in tradition of Spanish horror, offering the naked truth in clear - precise manner.

More than a simple good short horror, it is a profound inspired game of director with memories, imagination and emotions of viewer. And it works very well, easy feeling the states of Leticia.