Touch (2022 film)

For other films, see Touch (disambiguation).
Touch
Poster
Directed byJustin Burquist
Written byJustin Burquist
Produced by
  • Evette Betancourt
  • Christopher Holloway
Starring
CinematographyRay Gallardo
Edited byFernando Garcia
Music byMatthew Gradala
Production
companies
Distributed byKlipist
Release dates
Running time
8 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Budget$10,000

Touch is a 2022 crime horror short film written and directed by Justin Burquist. The film stars Eva Ceja, Randy Davison, Steve Froehlich and Nick Young. It won Best Horror Short Film at Berlin Short Film Festival, was nominated for Best Art Direction at Oceanside International Film Festival and screened at Monster Fest and the San Diego Comic-Con Independent Film Festival.

Plot

Homicide police bring in a mysterious woman with a supernatural ability to help them solve a gruesome murder.

Cast

  • Eva Ceja as Carmen
  • Randy Davison as Victim
  • Steve Froehlich as Killer
  • Nick Young as Detective Hooper
  • Jayce Venditti as Deputy Smith
  • Ron Christopher Jones as Deputy O'Neal

Production

Justin Burquist used the film's technique on a previous music video[1] and said the film is influenced by Se7en and Brian De Palma.[2] Principal photography took place at Gray Area Multimedia in downtown San Diego in 2021.[2][3] John Menvielle helped with sound recording, visual effects and editing.[4] Jayce Venditti and Ron Christopher Jones were also cast in the film.[5] It was made for a $10,000 budget.[6]

Release

The film premiered at Los Angeles Crime & Horror Film Festival on November 20, 2022.[7] It screened at Monster Fest with Matthew Holmes' The Cost,[8][9] Berlin Short Film Festival,[10] Oceanside International Film Festival[11] and Comic-Con International Independent Film Festival.[1][12]

It was distributed by Klipist on May 22, 2024.[13]

Reception

Critical response

Rebecca Cherry at Film Carnage praised Ceja's performance and said the film was "a captivating, mysterious blend of crime thriller and horror," scoring it 8 out of 10.[14] Mac Brewer at Horror Society scored it 4 out of 5 noting they "would love to see this further explored or redone into a feature film" because it is "a unique crime thriller/horror tale that has so much more potential."[15] Simon Thompson at Bloody Flicks praised the film, saying it was "visually captivating, and striking in its originality."[6] Adam La Rosa at Monster Fest said the film was "interesting and mind-bending."[9]

Accolades

Festival Year Award Recipient(s) Result Ref.
Los Angeles Crime & Horror Film Festival 2022 Best Editing Fernando Garcia Won [4]
Berlin Short Film Festival 2023 Best Horror Short Film: Audience Award Evette Betancourt, Justin Burquist, Christopher Holloway Won
Oceanside International Film Festival 2023 Best Art Direction Nicole Valencia Nominated [11]
San Diego Film Awards 2023 Best Narrative Short Film Evette Betancourt, Justin Burquist, Christopher Holloway Won [16]
Best Sound Design Joe Godfrey Won
Best Director Justin Burquist Nominated [5]
Best Lead Actress Eva Ceja Nominated
Best Cinematography Ray Gallardo Nominated
Best Editing Fernando Garcia Nominated
Best Production Design Nicole Valencia Nominated
Best Visual Effects John Menvielle Nominated
Brightside Tavern Film Festival 2024 Best Director Horror/Thriller Justin Burquist Nominated [17]
Best Horror/Thriller Touch Nominated
Best Concept Nominated

References

  1. ^ a b Ramos, Katherine (2023-07-27). "Comic-Con 'Touched' by Local's Short Film". Calexico Chronicle. Archived from the original on 2023-07-27. Retrieved 2023-07-28.
  2. ^ a b Brewer, Mac (2022-07-05). "Teaser & Poster for Short Horror Thriller 'Touch' by Justin Burquist". Horror Society (Press release). Archived from the original on 2022-07-06. Retrieved 2022-11-22.
  3. ^ "Comic-Con Local Film Screening: Touch - Saturday, July 22, 2023, 5 p.m. | San Diego Reader". San Diego Reader. Retrieved 2023-07-28.
  4. ^ a b Frausto, Elisabeth (2023-06-06). "La Jolla resident has special effect on local film up for San Diego Film Awards". La Jolla Light. Archived from the original on 2023-06-07. Retrieved 2023-06-27.
  5. ^ a b Beveridge, Madison (2023-06-21). "Point Loma actor adds to film resumé in short nominated for eight San Diego Film Awards". Point Loma-OB Monthly. Archived from the original on 2023-06-21. Retrieved 2023-06-27.
  6. ^ a b Thompson, Simon (2024-06-10). "Touch review". Bloody Flicks. Archived from the original on 2024-06-10. Retrieved 2024-06-28.
  7. ^ "Festival Lineup - Los Angeles Crime & Horror Film Festival". LA Crime & Horror Film Festival. 2022-11-22. Archived from the original on 2022-11-22. Retrieved 2022-11-22.
  8. ^ "MF The Cost". Cinema Nova. 2022-11-22. Archived from the original on 2022-11-22. Retrieved 2022-11-22.
  9. ^ a b La Rosa, Adam (2022-11-28). "The Cost World Premiere Wrap Up". La Rosa Productions. Archived from the original on 2023-02-09. Retrieved 2023-07-26.
  10. ^ "Festival 2023 | Berlin Short Film Festival". Berlin Short Film Festival. Archived from the original on 2023-02-21. Retrieved 2023-02-21.
  11. ^ a b "OIFF 2023 AWARD NOMINEES". Oceanside International Film Festival. Archived from the original on 2023-02-21. Retrieved 2023-02-21.
  12. ^ "Comic-Con 2023: Touch". San Diego Comic Con. Retrieved 2023-07-16.
  13. ^ "Touch (Short Film) - Watch for free | Klipist". Retrieved 2024-05-28.
  14. ^ Cherry, Rebecca (2023-07-19). "Review: Touch". Film Carnage. Archived from the original on 2023-07-21. Retrieved 2023-07-26.
  15. ^ Brewer, Mac (2024-06-20). "Touch (Short Review)". Horror Society. Retrieved 2024-06-28.
  16. ^ "Touch wins SD Film Award". Joe Godfrey. 2023-06-25. Archived from the original on 2023-07-27. Retrieved 2023-07-27.
  17. ^ "March 2024 Award Winners & Nominees". BRIGHTSIDE TAVERN FILM FESTIVAL. Retrieved 2024-05-28.