Slash-in-the-Box (2011) User Reviews

Pop goes it.

[Foreverisacastironmess123 · 7/10 · 21 December 2016]

A man is wowed to have been given an old-fashioned Jack-in-the-box for free by a mysterious old lady, while his pretty blonde buxom wife is immediately creeped out by the thing and wants nothing to do with it. Soon after they go to bed and late in the night the man is awakened by the sound of something scuttling around the house. He heads downstairs and hears the cheery box's tune which almost seems to beckon him. He approaches it and abruptly vanishes in a big splatter of gore as something unseen and monstrous emerges from the box and drags him inside. Wifey soon comes looking for him and the box begins to play for her, and as she steps closer it springs open with one ghastly surprise that she'll never forget! It's a cool short but I must say it's been overrated. I liked it, it's very well presented and has a good spooky atmosphere and a suspenseful buildup to the guy being eaten alive and it goes out on a good scary macabre sight gag, but it's still hardly the most complex or disturbing horror short ever. It's a very straightforward start-to-finish jump-scare story and that's fine, but there are superior horror shorts out there, like the excellent "Terrifier" by Damien Leone to name but one. And this wasn't particularly representative of any old school horror to me, the only thing that did strongly remind me of something that I'd seen before was how the box was similar to the one from Demonic Toys, only that one was a lot more creepy! I wish in the part where the guy can hear something and he almost steps on the doll they could have shown the little clown from the empty box running around the floor or something, and they definitely should've shown some kind of giant monster clown chomping on the him for a moment, and at the end, when it shows the harmless-looking cute clown of the box, it should have winked! It would have made the fear factor of the short more effective.. It's a little short on content and feels a bit truncated and rushed, but this is a nice eerie little short that makes great use of a classic spooky plot device. And like a good horror movie, you kind of know how it's going to end up...but you love to watch anyway just to see how it's all gonna go down!

High budget clichés

[AstenCulloski · 6/10 · 28 November 2015]

As far as clichés go, Slash-in-the-Box has them all: possessed toys, ball bouncing down stairs, hot female lead, wise-ass male lead, clowns, overly- curious characters, and wondering a dark house at night (though they actually turned a light on which is unheard of).

There were a couple clever scenes but aside from that there's not much to be gained from watching this. A couple jumpscares might get you here and there but personally I loath jumpscares and think they're very short- lasting and uncreative ways to scare your audience. The gore wasn't too overdone, as I would've expected it to be in such a cliché of a short.

Overall it wasn't bad though, the cinematography, acting and special effects were actually really good, the story and idea itself were just very dull and the methods to convey said story and idea were way too cliché for my liking.

Not as good as it tries to be

[Horst_In_Translation · 4/10 · 24 July 2016]

"Slash-in-the-Box" is a 5-minute short film from five years ago that was written and directed by Nick Everhart. It shows us the life of a couple and what happens when the man brings home a jack-in-the-box for whatever reason. Apparently, the little cube is cursed or something, or possessed with an evil spirit as it certainly has a life on its own and keeps wreaking havoc. It is a mix of comedy and horror, but I personally felt it does not turn out convincingly in either of these two areas. Plus the female actress was pretty bad and I wonder if she had any purpose really other than showing us her great looks and curves in her night outfit. The guy is slightly better, but also far from good enough to carry this little movie. I hope Everhart managed to improve in the five years since this was made, otherwise I cannot foresee a great character for him in the industry. As for this one here, I do not recommend the watch.

Great Suspense, and Perfect Ending

[AmblinRules · 9/10 · 15 October 2011]

Most horror shorts show their low budget with bad lighting, poor acting, and/or cheap effects.

Slash-In-The-Box wins on all fronts. At five minutes, it runs the risk of being too long for a "hit viral video" but the pacing is excellent, and it never feels like it's dragging. The actors look great, the cinematography is beautiful, and while the jump scares may not work as well as the director probably imagines, the last shot is the payoff that the entire piece builds toward, and it works wonderfully. In fact, I'm not sure how they did it, but it's a neat bit of effects magic.

This is a perfect example of a simple concept executed extremely well. The director and his team (including Producer/DP Leigh Scott of Transmorphers infamy) come from a sordid history of terrible DTV schlock, but they seems to be making up for it here. Can't wait to see what else these filmmakers have up their sleeves.

Slash-in-the-box is everything you expect only better

[creepercast · 9/10 · 14 February 2012]

Given Nick's The Asylum background, I was expecting over the top cheesy-ness. What we get is, well, funny... but not really that cheesy. Improbable... but definitely creepy. I think its OK to jump, laugh, and get a little grossed out is what I mean (btw, the best effects detail was the spray of blood when the box opened). If a low budget truly is an exercise in how to produce a quality film then Nick should win awards for making it look easy. Slash-in-the-box is everything you expect only better. Of course it can't be perfect or else it wouldn't be low budget. Which means it's familiar subject matter presented exactly how you want to see it with a bonus and in this case that's a good thing.

5 minutes of old school, fun horror

[shantyshawn · 10/10 · 23 October 2011]

For a 5 minute feature, you get the initial feeling that you may be disappointed in how the horror is going to develop, but as soon as you hit play, Slash-in-the-Box delivers like a full length horror feature. Overall the film has an 80's, early 90's horror atmosphere to it and you can tell that's what the director was attempting to accomplish, despite the very modern surroundings. The pacing was surprisingly good, considering there was only 5 minutes to progress the plot in. The acting was another plus. The actors did a great job of making their characters believable in the short amount of time they were on screen. The title object was also a great, creepy pick on the director's behalf. He's got the evil clown thing nailed. All in all, if you want a great five minutes of good, old fashioned horror, then Slash-in-the-Box is a great pick.

How many ways I have to say: wonderful!!!!!

[lady-jane1989 · 9/10 · 28 December 2011]

The short film is almost perfect!!! It has everything to be a great horror movie....And in just 5 minutes!!!! It's impossible!!! But you made it! The atmosphere was normal but disturbing. Is strange, is a normal house but anyway you can feel than something is not right. The sound is terrific!!! I loved the idea of not being able to see the little slayer and what happened with the body, but its sound made me nervous. And the cliché of the mirror was so cool! It has humor. That is important (I think so)because if you don't, the horror could be extremely disgusting. The movement of the head was perfect. I can't figured out how could it enter in the box, because the box looks smaller than the head. Never mind anyway. I didn't give 10 because it not scared me, and I didn't like the blood so much (I don't know why)and it disappears when the woman comes into the kitchen...for some reason... But it were only minor things. The final result is really wonderful. I never tire of seeing again and again. And every time I watch it I find a new detail to admire.

Slash-in-the-Box (2011)

[myserenity101 · 8/10 · 21 November 2011]

This is definitely one of the higher quality film-shorts that I have seen in a long time. Very well done with a professional polish and it actually got me a couple of times. Great editing, HD quality, and creepy camera angles help make Slash-In-The-Box stand out from other random run-of-the mill shorts.

I especially enjoyed the "mirror" sequence, that one definitely gave me a start. While I felt the "mess" left behind from the first victim (trying to avoid any real spoilers here) was a bit over the top, it certainly didn't take anything away.

If you're looking for something a little different that dishes up some clever fun with an old toy, then be sure and take a few minutes out of your day to give this one a watch.

Childhood Nightmares Re-Visited

[matthrst · 10/10 · 2 December 2011]

I hated the Jack-In-The Box as a Kid! This is another reason why! Thanks Again to Nick Everhart for the Nightmares Once More!

Nick takes you to the dark-place and leaves you there to die! I originally thought this would be awesome as a full length movie.

However,Nick goes right for your throat and rips off your head w/out the filler. Actually, it is very Hitchcock meets Stephen King. Alfred Hitchcock with the build of suspense and little blood. Stephen King(ish) taking the simpler things that everyone can relate to and turns it up and out! It is Best Watched Alone, Lights Off and Doors Locked if you dare!

I Hate the Jack-in-the-Box! I Love Slash-in-the-Box! And I Hate Nick Everhart for having me revisit my Childhood Nightmares!

It is a must view for every horror fan!

old fashion

[Kirpianuscus · 17 March 2018]

Seductive construction. for a story who gives crumbs of childhood memories, interest for each reaction of actors , the care for details and something else, escaping for the cliches. or, more exactly, using them in smart way. a film who has the gift to remind a sort of precise rules of a game. nothing improvised, all expected. and a box. nothing more. but enough for a real good show.