Twisted

This short film can be watched here: Twisted (2016) With the new blockbuster Twisters (2024) now showing in theaters, this seemed like a perfect short film to watch. Twisted is a story about a story that most likely didn't happen though many people swear it did and some swear there were there. It's really a story about our fucked-up memory. According to the urban legend, an actual twister hit a drive in theater in Thorold, Ontario while it was showing the film Twister in 1996. Like most urban legends, what actually happened is "based on a true story" with a healthy dose of embellishment. A tornado did hit a drive in theater in Thorold, Ontario in 1996. However, there was no movie playing at the time that the tornado hit. There were no people in cars watching. And the power was knocked out in the area at the time. What is most interesting about this film, however, is how people clearly remember something that did not happen. I don't think the witnesses are lying, per se, their brains have just rewritten what happened and made it real to them. Memory is very much like this--it is fickle and undependable. As a amateur folklorist (and one who studied it in college), I can tell you that most urban folklore follows this pattern. There is some truth in there, and a lot that is not. As someone, now, who deals with researching, I can tell you it re-emphasis the importance of primary sources--actual pictures, sound recordings, or videos are best. I love the way that director Jay Cheel told this story. He gave both sides, presented the facts that were available, but also made it fun and interesting. I plan on checking out some of his other work. (I hope it is also about Urban legends or folklore). Thank you to Letterboxd user, Roman K for getting this on my Friend’s Short Film Project Watchlist. I really liked this one. Click Here to Check Out My Friendwatch Project: Short Films "I have a pornographic memory--because it's fucked."

This short film can be watched here: Twisted (2016) With the new blockbuster Twisters (2024) now showing in theaters, this seemed like a perfect short film to watch. Twisted is a story about a story that most likely didn't happen though many people swear it did and some swear there were there. It's really a story about our fucked-up memory. According to the urban legend, an actual twister hit a drive in theater in Thorold, Ontario while it was showing the film Twister in 1996. Like most urban legends, what actually happened is "based on a true story" with a healthy dose of embellishment. A tornado did hit a drive in theater in Thorold, Ontario in 1996. However, there was no movie playing at the time that the tornado hit. There were no people in cars watching. And the power was knocked out in the area at the time. What is most interesting about this film, however, is how people clearly remember something that did not happen. I don't think the witnesses are lying, per se, their brains have just rewritten what happened and made it real to them. Memory is very much like this--it is fickle and undependable. As a amateur folklorist (and one who studied it in college), I can tell you that most urban folklore follows this pattern. There is some truth in there, and a lot that is not. As someone, now, who deals with researching, I can tell you it re-emphasis the importance of primary sources--actual pictures, sound recordings, or videos are best. I love the way that director Jay Cheel told this story. He gave both sides, presented the facts that were available, but also made it fun and interesting. I plan on checking out some of his other work. (I hope it is also about Urban legends or folklore). Thank you to Letterboxd user, Roman K for getting this on my Friend’s Short Film Project Watchlist. I really liked this one. Click Here to Check Out My Friendwatch Project: Short Films "I have a pornographic memory--because it's fucked."