Every so often, you stumble across something small that hits way harder than you expect. That’s exactly what happened when I sat down to watch “Oh Deer,” a short film by Marjorie Lewit and Dante Russo. I watched it once, sat there stunned, and then hit play again. Twice in one sitting. That almost never happens.
If you love films that pack a punch in a short runtime, keep reading. This one earned every bit of the buzz around it.
A Whole World Inside One Car
The setup sounds simple. A man and a woman are in a car. That’s it. But within seconds, you feel the tension crackling between them.
They’re a couple, and things are not good. You can sense the weight of a marriage under strain. He isn’t listening to her. She isn’t listening to him. They talk past each other in that painfully familiar way that anyone in a long relationship will recognize. The whole story unfolds in and around that car, and somehow that tight little space never feels limiting. It feels like a pressure cooker.
Then comes the ending.
I won’t spoil it, because you deserve to feel that jolt yourself. But the twist is serious, unexpected, and delivered with such confidence that it flips everything you thought you understood. When the screen cut to black, I actually said “wait, what?” out loud. That’s the mark of storytelling that trusts its audience.
A Festival Favorite (And It’s Easy to See Why)
Here’s the part that really shows how much this little film resonates with people who know their stuff. “Oh Deer” has been accepted into a genuinely impressive lineup of film festivals. We’re talking:
- Scumdance Film Festival
- Portland Festival of Film, Animation & Technology
- Long Beach International Film Festival
- Atlanta Micro Short Film Festival
- Long Island International Film Expo
- Denver Underground Film Festival
- Jersey Shore Film Festival
- Atlanta Shortsfest
- Coney Island Film Festival
- Myrtle Beach International Film Festival
- Boston Underground Film Festival
- Short. Sweet. Film Fest.
- Beacon Bonfire Festival
- Basement Tapes
- Charlotte Film Festival
- Hudson Valley Film Festival
- Tootsie’s Video Vault
That’s a serious circuit. From underground festivals to international expos, from Denver to Boston to the Jersey Shore, this film has traveled far and won over crowd after crowd. When a short earns that many spots, you know it’s connecting with people on a real level.
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The Talent Behind It
None of this happens by accident. Marjorie Lewit and Dante Russo are seriously gifted filmmakers, and it shows in every frame. Making a compelling story in such a confined setting takes real skill. You can’t hide behind big sets or flashy locations. It all comes down to writing, performance, pacing, and trust in the audience.
Dante and Marjorie nail all of it. They know exactly how much to reveal and exactly when to hold back. That kind of control is what separates a good short from one you can’t stop thinking about. These are producers and creators to watch, because I have a feeling we’ll be seeing a lot more from them.
The Story That Stays With You
Days after watching, “Oh Deer” was still rattling around in my head. That’s the highest compliment I can give a film. It didn’t just entertain me in the moment. It lingered. And the humor? It’s exactly my kind of humor — dry, sharp, and perfectly timed.
And honestly? My only complaint is that I wanted more. I kept thinking how easily this could grow into a full-length feature. The characters, the tension, the twist- all of it feels like the opening chapter of something bigger. I would happily buy a ticket to see the whole story play out on the big screen.
If you get the chance to catch “Oh Deer” at a festival near you, take it. Watch it once for the story, then watch it again to catch everything you missed the first time.