Disco Inferno Review: A Netflix horror short film stars Soni Bringas as Mel, Stephen Ruffin as Brandon, and Helene Udy as Lynn. It is directed by Matthew Castellanos, who also co-wrote the story with Mike Ambs. The short film has a runtime of 18 minutes.
Netflix’s Disco Inferno Trailer
Disco Inferno on Netflix starts with sister Lynn confessing in the church to stealing a baby and harming the mother because God didn’t give her a chance to birth a child. Set in 1955, a devastated and scared Lynn hangs herself to death inside the church. The narrative then shifts to 1973, where a young couple, Mel and Brandon, prepare for the dance competition at a posh LA club above the church. Mel is pregnant and wants to tell her boyfriend the good news. However, Lynn’s spirit wanders as she tries to harm Mel and her unborn child. Will Brandon save Mel on time, or will they lose the baby?
Today, Netflix dropped two horror shorts, Flashback and Disco Inferno. It’s Halloween month, so it makes sense for them to give scary movie genre fans different kinds of content. Director Matthew Castellanos sets the tone right initially, which builds a curiosity factor, especially when Lynn kills herself. The introduction to Mel and Brandon’s world was also good. But when it was time for the horror in the story to shine, I wasn’t impressed.
Considering the story is set in 1973, Matthew got it right by using flashy lights, disco vibes, set pieces, and music. There are several jump scares, but most are extremely loud, as if it’s just Mel screaming. The fear factor takes centre stage in the last 6-7 minutes, but it doesn’t leave any impact. The scene of Lynn’s spirit harming the pregnant woman looked rather bizarre than creepy.
Soni Bringas, Stephen Ruffin, and Helene Udy play their parts well. But the short doesn’t delve deep into any characters or the story, so there weren’t any standout moments.
Disco Inferno Review: Final Thoughts
Overall, Disco Inferno Netflix is a painfully loud and plain horror story. The filmmaker got the 70s filmmaking style apt with the music and cinematography, but the fear factor is unappealing. The streaming platform describes it as scary and chilling, but that’s never the feeling we get while watching the movie.
The short film is now streaming on Netflix.
Also Read: Flashback Review: A Mind-Bending Horror that Delves into Psychological Intrigues