Emma J. Gilbertson‘s Requiem is the kind of horror short that makes you wish witches were real. And I don’t wish this so I can use it for myself, my family, or a friend. I wish witches were real so they could use the burning fire inside of them to destroy the bigots who burn down the lesbian love in Requiem. A love that Bella Ramsey (The Last of Us) and Safia Oakley Green so beautifully brought to life with the former actor proving how talented they are through their acting.
Set in 1605, Requiem tells the story of Evelyn, a minister’s daughter played by Ramsey. Her character is in love with Mary, played by Green. And this love is more dangerous than any supposed witch during this time. Because bigotry, hate, and the subjugation of women for the needs of men were core to this community. The love between Evelyn and Mary was seen as a threat. And this bigoted community destroyed that love and Evelyn in return.
Admittedly, films like this are hard for me to watch. We have lived so long seeing stories of our communities in pain. And I’m tired of it all. But I know that stories like this are important to tell so people know that we have been here from the start. We aren’t a new fad or a passing fancy. We have loved for eons and existed since the dawn of time. And we carry the pain of our communities on our shoulders as we break new ground.
And the only reason why I’m sitting here, talking about Requiem, is because this short film lit a fire in me. It made me want to rage seeing Evelyn’s pain brought to life by Ramsey. I wanted to fight with her character. Burn everything to the ground with her. And get revenge for the love she had lost. That’s why I think Requiem needs a whole movie. One where Evelyn rages more than she did at the end, where witches are real, and she comes into her power. And if she burns down the lives of the bigots as revenge, I won’t even blink.
That’s how good Requiem is. And that’s why you should check it out as well.
