Genre: Period Horror, Folk Horror, Dark Fantasy ๐ญ๐ฆ
Director/Writer: Beth Park (feature debut) ๐ฅโ๏ธ
Status: Festival favorite, online release via ALTER ๐
Watch the Shorts:
๐ญ Synopsis
Fishwife Short Film (2022); In wild 18th century Britain ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ, a lonely woman living in an isolated house on the cusp of a lake opens her door to a stranger in need ๐ช. When his actions cause him to flee, sheโs left to deal with the encounter and fend for herself.
But thereโs something darker at play: she discovers her menstrual cycle is of interest to this stranger ๐ฉธ, leading to a bizarre romance, supernatural elements, and a presumed revenge plot ๐ช๐. Fishwife Short Film (2022); Shot during a biblical storm in Wales ๐ง๏ธ, this is a brutal but beautiful period piece that treads the line between horror and fantasy โ๏ธโจ. Learn how to set up Xfinity WiFi internet box (2026) & get your home network running fast.
๐ Cast & Creative Team
Scarlett Brookes as The Woman (lead) ๐ฉ
Charles Beaven as The Stranger / Fishman ๐๐จ
Shango Baku as additional cast ๐ญ
Director/Writer/Producer: Beth Park (trained as actor, also directs video games including Baldurโs Gate III) ๐ฎ๐ฌ
Cinematography: James Oldham (gorgeous, dreary landscapes) ๐ท
Production Design/Costume: Pollyanna Elston ๐จ
Editor: Michelle Tsen โ๏ธ
Composer: Zac Mcfadzean ๐ต
Sound Design: Seah Hotson ๐
VFX/Animation: Penelope VFX ๐ฅ๏ธ
๐ Major Awards & Festival Run
Toronto International Womenโs Film Festival 2022: Best Horror ๐ฅ
HollyShorts Film Festival 2022: Official Selection (Oscar-qualifying) ๐ฌ
Austin Film Festival 2022: Official Selection (Oscar-qualifying) ๐
SITGES โ International Fantastic Film Festival of Catalonia 2022: Official Selection ๐ช
Celluloid Screams 2022: Official Selection ๐
Aesthetica Film Festival 2022: Official Selection (BAFTA-qualifying) ๐
FilmQuest 2022: Official Selection ๐ฅ
Nightmares Film Festival 2022: Official Selection ๐ฑ
Defy Film Festival 2022: Official Selection โ
Kerry International Film Festival 2022: Official Selection ๐ฎ๐ช
San Sebastiรกn Horror and Fantasy Film Festival 2022: Official Selection ๐ง
Flickersโ Vortex Sci-Fi Fantasy and Horror Film Festival 2022: Official Selection ๐
Canberra Short Film Festival 2022: Official Selection ๐ฆ๐บ
Vancouver Horror Show Film Festival 2022: Official Selection ๐
Dam Short Film Festival 2023: Official Selection ๐ง
Poppy Jasper International Film Festival 2023: Official Selection ๐ธ
๐ก The Origin Story
Fishwife Short Film (2022); Director Beth Park was driving with her baby asleep when the idea popped into her head! ๐ญ Initially thinking of it as a short story or novel, she turned it into a script when furlough money came in during the pandemic.
With only a few thousand pounds, she shot the entire film in two days during a โbiblical stormโ in Wales with hurricane-level winds in Snowdonia ๐ช๏ธ. She did a 2.5-hour unit move between internal and external locations. Post-production was done basically as a team of 1 while juggling a job and small child ๐ถ๐ช
๐จ Visual Style
Robert Eggers vibes: Atmospheric, folk horror aesthetic ๐ญ
Cross-cutting editing: In the third act, gives chills and enhances impact โ๏ธโ๏ธ
Colour grade: On point for the period ๐จ
Limited dialogue: Visual storytelling prioritizes mood and atmosphere ๐ค๐ฌ
๐ Key Themes
Female body autonomy ๐ฉธโ
Menstruation as horror trope (subverted) ๐ฉธ๐ฑ
Isolation and loneliness ๐ ๐
Supernatural romance / monsterfucking ๐๐
Revenge and empowerment ๐ช๐ช
Nature vs. civilization ๐ฟ๐๏ธ
๐ฅ Critical Reception
โMy wife wanted me to make sure it was very atmospheric, and she is 100% rightโ โ Letterboxd review
โThe director Beth Park and cinematographer James Oldham crafted such dreary and beautifully captured atmosphere and landscape that gave me serious Eggers vibesโ โ Renegade Film Fest attendee
โSaw this at Renegade Film Fest 2023. It blew me tf away!โ ๐คฏ
โA brutal but beautiful period film with a supernatural elementโ โ Michelle Tsen portfolio
โToo bad it isnโt also good. Basically fishman shows up and stabs eggs into a lady and thatโs itโ (mixed review) ๐ฌ
โCould have been improved by some actual monsterfuckingโ ๐๐ฆ
โAbe Sapien would never treat me this way!!!โ ๐ฆ
๐บ Where to Watch
ALTER: Official online release (YouTube channel) ๐ฑ
YouTube: Search โFishwife short filmโ ๐ฅ
Festival circuit: Completed extensive 2022-2023 run ๐ช
Bottom Line: Fishwife Short Film (2022); This 16-minute British folk horror gem is a stunningly atmospheric, divisive, and unforgettable debut from Beth Park. With its Eggers-esque vibes, menstrual horror themes, and gorgeous storm-soaked cinematography, itโs a must-see for fans of The Witch, The Lighthouse, and The Shape of Waterโeven if some viewers wanted more โmonsterfuckingโ! ๐๐ฉธ๐