Art Film
Helter Skelter
Overview
Helter Skelter is an experimental short film exploring the unsettling experience of the uncanny through repetition, mirroring and the presence of doppelgängers. Set within an isolated, abandoned landscape, the film follows a lone figure whose behaviour gradually shifts between familiarity and unease, leaving it uncertain whether she is waiting, trapped or no longer entirely real. Built around atmosphere rather than narrative, the project examines how subtle visual distortions can transform ordinary imagery into something psychologically unsettling, encouraging viewers to question what they are seeing.
Watch the Experiment
Editing Approach
The edit focused on creating unease through restraint rather than spectacle. Mirroring techniques and double-exposure effects were used to blur the boundaries between reality and illusion, reinforcing the film's exploration of identity and the uncanny. A deliberately limited blue colour palette shaped every aspect of the visual language; from costume and location to eye colour, creating a cold, isolated atmosphere that remained consistent throughout. A subtle CRT television aesthetic was introduced in post-production, using scan lines, softened highlights and a gentle halo effect to evoke the feeling of an ageing broadcast. The treatment enhances the film's unsettling atmosphere without overpowering the imagery.