Harpy
An unknowing man rescues a rather aggressive and demanding harpy.
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I like the storyline of this show,it attract me so much
Pretty Good
All of these films share one commonality, that being a kind of emotional center that humanizes a cast of monsters.
This is a dark and sometimes deeply uncomfortable drama
I had never heard of this film until less than a half hour ago and now that I've seen it I cannot believe it had ever escaped my knowledge previously! THIS is what filmmaking is all about! It's damn brilliant, and one of the creepiest films I've ever seen, regardless of length. It's a bit confusing as there is likely a bit more context one would need in order to totally understand the overall point of the film (harpies obviously come from mythology, and it feels like this short contains many references to said mythology and may be a parable of sorts); however, regardless of my knowledge on other matters, "Harpya" was one fun ride! It's highly experimental, utilizing a bizarre technique combining animation and live action to eerie effects...basically the definition of the "uncanny valley". It also seemed to have a surreal sense of black humor that recalls the great Jan Svankmajer, an animation genius who I admire above most other filmmakers, so a recollection of him in favorable response to a film is always a good sign from me!
Okay, so this is a short that I can honestly say is unlike any other I've ever seen, and it's about a man who saves a harpy from death and then soon comes to realise that sometimes no good deed goes unpunished and ends up exactly half the man he used to be... It's visually very interesting and different, being a kind of Gothic mix of live-action and strange jerking animation-like motion that gives it an old fashioned spooky tone and style of the 'fantasmagorie' I thought. The design and makeup of the bird woman is quite nightmarish and creepy at points. Very weird mix of sensual and savage. And the ending where it's revealed that everything that's happened has been some manner of cycle between the harpy and her would be saviours is pretty chilling, especially the evil smile she gives the latest soon-to-be victim. That ending really solidly makes it a horror short for me, and it makes me wonder if perhaps Dario Argento used the idea when he made his excellent Masters of Horror episode "Jenifer". Fantastic scary short with bizarre and eerie use of one of the classic mythological monsters. Caw!
This eight-minute animated short film has more atmosphere, more dread, than a dozen slasher movies put together. A man rescues a strange, bird-like creature who is being strangled on a public street. He takes it home.The thing is a harpy, a woman with a bird's body, derived from Greek myths. It does only one thing -- snatching food out of human hands. Well -- this one is also capable of eating half its host, removing his body parts from the waist down.The harpy comes to dominate its rescuer's life. He begins to starve, sneaks out the door, tries to disguise himself as a statue, and chows down on some pomme frites, but the creature finds him and snatches the tidbits from his hand.Finally he attacks the harpy and begins to strangle it, just as its previous host had done, but a police officer runs up and bops the man on the head. We can only imagine what the police officer's life is going to be like, now that he's acquired this half-avian companion.There is no eerie music, none of the usual accompaniments of the unearthly tale, but every scene takes place at night and, with two slight exceptions, no one else is present.The original harpies were limited in their mischief to grabbing things out of your hands before you hand a chance to enjoy them, kind of like those long-tailed birds called "camp robbers" or like my ex wife, but in later tales they became vengeful, punishing those who had committed evil deeds, having been confused with the Eumenides or the Furies.It's short, but it's effective too.
I saw this when I was very young and have never forgotten it. I recently unearthed it and was still very disturbed by it. It seems to have a direct affect on me and I find the harpya itself quite terrifying. Waiting for it to appear as the poor man is trying to escape is extremely tense and makes me feels very anxious. It is a disturbing portrait of how life has spiralled out of control for the protagonist and he is now kept trapped by this strange creature, forced to be subservient to it and pander to its hungry needs. A nightmarish film which has stayed with me for many years. As disturbing as The Vanishing(original) or Eraserhead but due to its length leaves a strong aftertaste that remains. Powerful stuff and unique.