Dana (2020) - Short Horror Film Review

Dana is an award winning short eighteen minute long thriller that was written and directed by Lucía Forner Segarra (this received more than one hundred and twenty festival selections and forty two awards). This initially seemed to be inspired by the #MeToo movement, but it actually came about after the director herself suffered an assault, with the film made as a cathartic outlet for her trauma. At its heart this is a revenge thriller, a subgenre of horror that I typically enjoy, and with this Spanish entry I certainly did.

Thais Blume stars as Diana, a woman who while walking to her car late one night is attacked by a would be rapist. Having killed the man in self defence, she returns to to her caravan home traumatised. As the days pass and no one visits, she realises she has gotten away with her possible crime. She sees this as an awakening and becomes a vigilante who protects woman that find themselves under assault, leaving her calling card at the scene of every murder.

There is a lot packed into this eighteen minute film and it goes along at a fast enough pace that it tells its story competently. Blume is the highlight of the film, perfectly cast, she shows both strength and frailty in her role. Aside from best friend Tomás (Niko Verona) the rest of the cast only have fleeting appearances, many of which appear as various rapists set during a montage of murder. I think it was important for the protagonist to have a male best friend to show that her actions aren't created from hatred of men, more that she has taken matters into her own hands due to a failing criminal system.
This reminded me of #MeToo due to the snowball effect her actions bring to the film world, and while this is fantastical in how this normal woman becomes an unstoppable killer, it was a satisfying film to watch. Special mention goes to the blood spray mask that she brings with her, added a nice little comedic element to all the bloodshed that occurs.

With a great soundtrack that includes eighties synth among the musical choices, and with a strong and believable lead in Blume, Dana was an enjoyable thriller, impressively paced and with a story that seemed vaster than its short run time.

SCORE: