Directed by Joseph Catté
Runtime: 11 minutes
Genre: Fantasy Thriller
Format: Scripted Short
Country: France
What starts out as fun quickly becomes something much darker.
Ad Lib, directed by Joseph Catté, is the kind of short film that knows exactly how to get under your skin. It begins innocently enough, allowing you to settle into the story and its characters before gradually pulling the rug out from underneath you.
And once things start to go wrong, they really start to go wrong.
What makes Ad Lib particularly effective is the way it plays with the audience's perception. Catté uses some very clever filmmaking techniques to keep you questioning what you're actually seeing and, more importantly, what you should believe. Just when you think you've figured out what's happening, the film gives you another reason to question your assumptions.
That uncertainty is where much of the tension comes from.
The film's description tells us that Max and Julie are very much in love. Julie is jealous, while Max recognizes that neither of them is perfect. That seemingly simple relationship setup becomes the foundation for something far more unsettling.
And I don't want to say too much more.
Part of the fun—and the horror—of Ad Lib is discovering where it wants to take you. This is one of those shorts where knowing too much beforehand could take away some of the experience. Go in knowing as little as possible and let the film do its work.
The closest comparison I could come up with was a modern take on Rod Serling's Night Gallery. There is something wonderfully old-school about the way Ad Lib creates its unease. It isn't dependent on throwing something at the screen every few minutes. Instead, it builds an atmosphere where you begin to suspect that something is seriously wrong, even before you can explain exactly what it is.
That's often much scarier.
The fantasy elements also give the filmmakers room to blur the boundaries between what is real and what isn't. The result is a short that keeps you off balance without giving away its hand too quickly.
And then there is the psychological element.
Ad Lib understands that some of the most disturbing horror comes from situations that feel recognizable. Relationships, jealousy, trust, perception, and the fear that you may not understand the person standing next to you are all much closer to everyday life than monsters or supernatural creatures.
That makes the unsettling moments hit harder.
At just 11 minutes, Ad Lib doesn't overstay its welcome. It establishes its world, builds its tension, and delivers an experience that sticks with you after the credits.
I will add one warning: this is not necessarily an easy watch for everyone. The film deals with disturbing material, and viewers who are particularly sensitive to certain themes may want to approach it cautiously.
For horror and thriller fans, though, that's part of what makes this short so effective.
Ad Lib isn't simply trying to scare you while you're watching it.
It's trying to make you wonder what you just watched afterward.
Short-Heads Verdict: MUST WATCH
If you're looking for a short thriller that is genuinely unsettling, cleverly constructed, and willing to leave you questioning reality, put Ad Lib on your list.
Just don't expect it to leave your head as quickly as it gets there.
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