Dearly Departed (2020)
Director: Elise Martin
Screenwriter: Jess Bartlett, Elise Martin
Starring: Betty Denville, Ashton Spear, William Paul, Olivia Warren, Sean Kilty
Dearly Departed is an inventive short that blends the charm of a tuneful musical with the chills of the supernatural. Directed by Elise Martin and co-written with Jess Bartlett, the film stands out for its female-led creative team and for delivering a compact, emotionally resonant story that feels both whimsical and slightly sinister. Think of a quiet kitchen-sink romance meeting ghostly apparitions and musical numbers, and you have the tonal mix that defines this short.
The film has enjoyed considerable success on the festival circuit, earning awards such as Best International Film at Carolina Fear Fest and Best Short Film and Best Writing at Sick Chick Flicks. Those accolades reflect the movie’s strengths: a fresh narrative voice, cohesive production design and a clear sense of style that elevates its 13-minute runtime.
The story centers on Vera (Betty Denville), a woman living in a house shared with benevolent but possessive spirits. Vera is torn between a hope for new love with Fred (Ashton Spear) and loyalty to the ghostly companions who refuse to accept her moving on. With the help — and occasional interference — of William Paul, Olivia Warren and Sean Kilty as the musically inclined apparitions, Vera must find a way to reconcile her desires and the lingering ties that bind her to the past.
One of the film’s most notable achievements is how it merges genre elements. The musical sequences are integrated organically into the narrative, serving character development as much as entertainment. Original songs and arrangements underscore emotional beats and help to chart the tentative progress of Vera and Fred’s relationship. At the same time, horror-tinged visuals and subtle special effects remind the audience that this is a fairy tale with a darker undercurrent.
Visually, Dearly Departed is a polished short. Thoughtful cinematography and deliberate set design create memorable, intimate moments: close framing and carefully chosen camera angles highlight both the domestic warmth of Vera’s world and the disquiet beneath its surface. The production favors a vintage-inspired pastel palette that lends the home a welcoming, storybook quality, while lighting choices often contrast with the action to produce striking tableaux. Although the lighting occasionally feels mismatched to certain scenes — at times slightly over- or underexposed for the moment — this remains a minor blemish on an otherwise assured visual approach.
The special effects are handled with restraint and imagination. Rather than relying on spectacle, the film uses subtle techniques to imply the supernatural, which keeps the focus on character and mood. Costume and makeup design for the spirits support their melancholic charm, and small practical touches — like a carefully photographed strawberry on a cake — add texture and appetite appeal to the mise-en-scène.
Performance-wise, the cast delivers. Betty Denville anchors the piece with an approachable warmth that makes Vera’s dilemma feel real and urgent despite the story’s fantastical elements. Ashton Spear brings sincerity to Fred, while William Paul, Olivia Warren and Sean Kilty round out the ensemble as a bittersweet chorus of supporting specters. Together they balance comedy and melancholy, making the musical numbers as emotionally satisfying as the quieter moments.
At just over ten minutes, Dearly Departed is economical and deliberate: every beat serves the central theme of love, loss and the difficulty of letting go. The film is funny, tender and occasionally wicked in its twists, offering a creative and polished example of what short-form storytelling can accomplish with dedication and clear vision. Elise Martin and Jess Bartlett have crafted a distinctive short that highlights emerging talent both behind and in front of the camera.
16/24
Watch the film for free on Vimeo. Social: Dearly Departed on Facebook; @ddmusical2018 on Twitter; @dearlydeparted2018 on Instagram.