Though certain technological advancements and the aftermath of the pandemic have greatly affected the film industry, there are many movies that still made it to the box office. Whether just being in the comfort of our own home or through the traditional big screen, it is nice to know that there are still quality movies that are worth watching. One of these is Poolside –  an award-winning thriller film that is combined with suspense and a twist on how the present can be affected by a dark past.

Poolside follows the story of a 1950’s high society housewife Meg Stephens (played by Anne Beyer) starting to hear voices from their indoor pool. Sacrificing her dreams and surviving in a huge contemporary home with a golf course view left to herself alone, she tries to find comfort from having alcohol, Librium, and Valium. Though these substances attempt to keep her sanity from being isolated, the haunting moments kept on bothering her. Self-doubt, addiction, grief, and terror are just a few of the feelings she’s dealing with as she tries to make sense of her inexplicable circumstance. As the idealistic setting stands in sharp contrast to the sinister thoughts, Meg kept on seeking to comprehend the voices she hears underwater.

Somehow confirming her realizations, the cleaning lady Emma (played by Giovannie Cruz) even decided to refuse to work again for the house after her own horrifying experience. Fast forward to the present, Jeff Murphy (played by Oscar Seung) are trying to convince the Peterson couple (Jennifer Kristin as Sarah Peterson and Adam Luttrull as Austin Peterson) to buy the house, with the hopes that they will not be swayed by rumors about a woman that died many years ago in the property and kept hearing voices in the poolside.

This Indie Thriller film with period specific Mid-century modern set design has won many awards as proof that it is one of the must-see movies of the year. It includes Special Jury Mention for the Award of Excellence in Indie Short Fest (A Los Angeles International Film Fest); Platinum Award for Best Mystery Short, Gold Award for Best First Time Director (Alex Kinter and Erik Schuessler), Gold Award for Best Cinematography (Alex Kinter), and Runner up for the Best Film of the Month (January 2021) from the Independent Shorts Awards; Special Mention for the Award of Excellence and Best Women (lead) Short from IndieX Film Fest; and from the Fourth Annual Hollywood Blvd Film Festival as the Best Experimental Short Film. This is apart from the 20+ awards it has won internationally.

This 17-minute film is not just full of suspense, but will surely make any viewer gripping at their seats waiting for the big revelation. This movie is not just for those who love thrillers or art house films, but for anyone that would like to witness a one-of-a-kind storytelling experience on how the past can leave its mark on the present time.

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