With The Flesh of My Lovers, director Joshua Giuliano set out to create something that would make the audience squirm—his short thrives on making its viewers uncomfortable, creating an arresting atmosphere that dissects the twisted fantasies of a sociopath. But it’s the tone, one that blends dark humor with even darker horror, that really brings his short to life. Once the film settles in, Giuliano digs into the mad world of his protagonist—an awkward and reclusive man that acts out his sick delusions on mannequins. It’s a wonderfully weird set up that reminded me of Franck Khalfoun’s Maniac, only this film takes a damaged mind and brightens it up a bit with a final act that you’ll never see coming.

A sociopath prone to ultra-violent fantasies attempts to transform his reclusive lifestyle when the woman of his dreams moves-in next door.

If you liked what you saw, be sure to check out more short films like The Flesh of My Lovers right here on the Short Round!