All These Creatures
A lyrical adolescent reckoning transforms family breakdown and a mysterious infestation into an uncanny meditation on the creatures hidden within human life.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Measured
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Layered
- Violence
- None
- melancholic
- eerie
- dreamy
- reflective viewing
- short film showcase
What critics said
Critics and festival juries broadly celebrated the short's striking beauty, emotional importance, and inventive treatment of memory and wonder.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
The adolescent protagonist attempts to untangle memories of infestation and his father's unraveling.
The film's sense of wonder is concentrated in the smallest details and the little creatures inside people.
The boy's perspective organizes the depiction of his father's unraveling and the surrounding mystery.
The mysterious infestation and internal creatures blur psychological experience with uncanny imagery.
Films like All These Creatures, and why
The Tree of Life
shared poetic coming-of-age drama, fragmented memory, and family trauma
Beasts of the Southern Wild
shared surreal visual language, childhood perspective, and emotional family turmoil
The Fits
shared intimate adolescent viewpoint, troubled parent, and lyrical psychological realism
Movie Details
- Director
- Charles Williams
- Release Date
- 2018-05-18
- Runtime
- 13 min
- Rating
- 6.5 / 10 (13)
Cast
- Melody Demessie
- Helen Hailu
- Mandela Mathia
- Melchisedek Nkailu
- Yared Scott
Common questions
- What is All These Creatures about?
- A lyrical adolescent reckoning transforms family breakdown and a mysterious infestation into an uncanny meditation on the creatures hidden within human life.
- What is All These Creatures like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of All These Creatures as measured, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as layered.
- Is All These Creatures violent?
- No — Ember's analysis finds no violence in All These Creatures.
- What did critics think of All These Creatures?
- Critics and festival juries broadly celebrated the short's striking beauty, emotional importance, and inventive treatment of memory and wonder.
- Which films are like All These Creatures?
- Films with a similar feel include The Tree of Life, Beasts of the Southern Wild, and The Fits.
- How long is All These Creatures?
- All These Creatures runs 13 minutes.
