Davide Melini's horror short "Lion" is a poignant, and deeply poetic scream against child abuse and domestic violence. The film stars Pedro Sanchez, Michael Segal, and Tania Mercader, and has had a phenomenal festival run resulting in critical acclaim and multiple awards. Blending classic creature feature affectations with social awareness, "Lion" plays out a positive "fight back" declaration against the stigmas surrounding child abuse with a cleverly told horror story.

Melini offers a strong, dark story that is smart, and very much on point with a very real problem in society - domestic violence, specifically child abuse. "Lion" is a heartful and fantastical "fight song" for the victim of this global nightmare. 

The special effects are minimalist in design, but still add a strong, impactful presence. Shot concisely with creative and smart choices, the limited gore and kill sequences work nicely, giving the film a classic horror element. It throws back to more psychological horror movies that restrain from hardcore visceral effects. 

Overall "Lion" is a beautiful, dark fantasy with parapsychological aspects. The story is clever, the creature elements and message are near perfection. A definite must watch short film!

The horror genre features stories that aim to elicit fear, suspense, and a sense of dread in its audience. Horror stories often explore themes related to the unknown, the supernatural, and the macabre, and they frequently evoke strong emotional reactions such as anxiety, terror, and unease.

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.

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An isolated chalet in a snowy forest... A man blinded by alcohol... A woman unable to rebel... And an 8-year-old child troubled and dark... The silent night is broken with cries... the start of a terrible nightmare!

Vincenzo Mastrantonio, Ferdinando Merolla, Michael Segál, Luca Vannella, Davide Melini, Bobby Holland Hanton, Tania Mercader, Alexis Continente, Juanma Postigo, Francesco Tresca, Roberto Maria Paglialunga, Carlos Borja Luise, Carlos Javier López, Pedro Sánchez, and Daniel Salinas in Lion (2017)

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Davide Melini at an event for Lion (2017)

Vincenzo Mastrantonio, Ferdinando Merolla, Michael Segál, Luca Vannella, Davide Melini, Bobby Holland Hanton, Tania Mercader, Alexis Continente, Juanma Postigo, Francesco Tresca, Roberto Maria Paglialunga, Carlos Borja Luise, Carlos Javier López, and Daniel Salinas in Lion (2017)

Lion

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