Overly long despite the good tone and concept; doesn't really grip as it should and the conclusion is a little disappointing

This short is about a man who has had hiccups his entire life, with endless humiliations and suffering due to this affliction. At first glance you could assume that it would be a comedy sketch type of short film but actually it does something else. We join the film with the hiccups cured and the man is discussing this with his therapist in voice-over. We see back through his life with the things he had to go through while also suffering the hiccups all the way, and gradually we built towards what it was that seems to have cured him one night at a diner. It has a dark tone throughout.

The idea to play it darker is a good one because we start to understand the character that we have by the end of the film; it isn't played for laughs and there is a certain realism to him that offers interest to the viewer. Speaking broadly I liked the idea but it is the delivery and the detail that didn't work so well with me. The film is too long for what it does, and it is hard not to feel that because it is not particularly well constructed, doesn't build or develop as well as one would have liked. I felt it labored a lot of stuff that really made the same point rather than expanding upon it. The ending is nicely dark but perhaps is not as satisfying as it could have been, with the final shots feeling an bit too open and lacking in impact compared to what had just gone before.

Technically it works very well, with good cinematography and sound. It also has a very good performance from Reeve in the lead role; he convinces in his misery and desperation and he does make for an engaging focal point. It isn't that the film is bad, because it isn't, it is just more that the delivery doesn't make the most of it all of the strengths, which is a shame.

The drama genre is a broad category that features stories portraying human experiences, emotions, conflicts, and relationships in a realistic and emotionally impactful way. Dramas delve into the complexities of human life, often exploring themes of love, loss, morality, societal issues, personal growth, with the aim to evoke an emotional response from the audience by presenting relatable and thought-provoking stories.

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The short form refers to creative works characterized by their brevity and concise storytelling. Unlike full-length feature films, short films have a running time of less than 45 minutes, while TV shorts have a running time of less than 22 minutes.

Benedict Cumberbatch in The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar (2023)

The thriller genre features suspense, tension, and excitement. These stories are known for keeping audiences on the edge of their seats and delivering intense emotional experiences by revolving around high-stakes situations, dangerous conflicts, and the constant anticipation of unexpected events.

A man with chronic hiccups struggles with the affliction over 15 years, until he discovers a unique fix for the problem.

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