Helmed by Dave and Lou Elsey, Keep the Gaslight Burning is a quick, taut short film that effectively showcases the creative minds and efforts behind its production.
Based on the short story by famed horror author R. Chetwynd-Hayes, the Elsey-written script is powerfully delivered by high caliber actors (Night Court’s Markie Post and her real-life daughter Kate Armstrong Ross). Quickly setting the tone and Hammer-esque mood with lighting, impeccable makeup and Victorian costumes, Gaslight tells a brisk, palpable story, reminiscent of early horror movies and pulp classics.
Post plays Mrs. Maxwell, an elderly woman that never leaves her room (as we soon discover, for a very good reason), requiring an assistant that can both take care of her and follow one simple rule: Never let the gaslight go out.
Why? She killed her abusive husband, who has returned from beyond the grave (as played by the legendary Rick Baker) to carry out ghoulish revenge. But as long as the light remains, he cannot enter her bedroom prison.
With both such a great set-up and talent behind the lens, Gaslight is a fully fleshed-out story, with good scares, a scattering of dark comedy and a well-built character arcs. Wrapping up nicely with a classic moral, fans of Creepshow and The Twilight Zone will clamor for more when the credits finally roll. Hopefully, the creators turn this one-off short film into an anthology series (or a full feature using these characters).
For more information and updates about the movie, check out KeeptheGaslightBurning.com or their Twitter account, Twitter.com/GaslightGhost.
