Continuing with our coverage of the HorrOrigins 2022 film festival, we at Horror Facts got the opportunity to watch When They Come, a short film about the horrors of unrequited love.
When They Come opens on Vanessa, as she receives a phone call from a friend that Dimitri, a guy she had gone out with on a couple of dates, recently took his own life.
Initially taken aback by the news, Vanessa soon begins to question if she had anything to do with his decision to take his own life.
To her friend, she reveals that Dimitri had the sensation that she had been stringing him along, which might have had some truth to it, as she had only been seeing him in an attempt to get over her ex.
She soon starts to reveal that there were certain aspects of his character that she found to be peculiar, including his belief in curses. A belief that arose from his strong ties to his Romani heritage, Because of this, Dimitri wouldn’t sleep with Vanessa. Instead, he tried to ask her to marry him after every date.
Along with the proposals, Vanessa discloses that Dimitri had made several remarks about wanting to commit suicide, giving off the impression that he almost revelled in the idea of taking his own life.
Continuing to unburden herself, Vanessa reveals that on their last date she attempted to sleep with Dimitri, only to have him decline her advances and once again propose. She is fed up with his antics and informs Dmitri that she has finally had enough of him.
Scorned by this rejection, Dimitri informs Vanessa that he will use his impure death to bring a curse upon her. In retaliation, Vanessa tells Dimitri that he should make good on his threats and take his own life.
Now faced with the realisation that she is partially to blame for his suicide, she begins to see that death is not the end of Dimitri and that curses are real.
What’s unique about When They Come is that there is no clear hero or villain in the story. Throughout the film, we learn that both Vanessa and Dimitri are, at their core, flawed characters.
Vanessa is only using Dmitri to get what she wants. She cares little for his feelings and is only concerned with what is good for her. This is evident in the fact that she attempts to justify her actions when faced with the realisation that she had a significant part in his death-after all, she doesn’t want to see herself as the bad guy.
As flawed as Vanessa is, Demetri is just as bad, if not worse. He uses manipulation as a means to get what he wants, threatening to kill himself if Vanessa doesn’t love him. This couple is the true definition of what it means to be in a “toxic relationship.”
When They Come is filmed in a single, continuous shot, and looks at the inevitability of consequences and what happens when they come.
When They Come is written and directed by Hunter Collins and stars Alyx Melone as Vanessa and Robert Pue as Dimitri.
Watch When They Come on Block I of the HorrOrigins 2022 film festival and see what happens when bad meets evil.
I have come here to chew bubblegum and write horror, and I’m all out of bubblegum.
Senior Editor at Horror Facts
