Watching the growth of a filmmaker’s career as it develops from the outset can be an interesting endeavor, and if you’ve been keeping up with Cole Abaius’ Short Film of the Day series, then you’ve been doing just that with director Lawrie Brewster. So far we’ve gotten shorts from Brewster called Turnip Head and Empire, which showed off the director’s penchant for visual experimentation, fascination with the macabre, and ability to mix several different types of filmmaking into one strange but cohesive piece. And now you can see how Brewster has taken what he’s learned up to this point and utilized it in a feature-length film. Said feature is called Lord of Tears, and it’s a ghost story that takes place in a mansion in the Scottish Highlands. Due to its Scottish setting, Lords of Tears manages to take your typical haunted house tale and turn it on its head a bit by adding in some Celtic mythology, which, as you can see in this trailer for the film, mostly manifests itself in the form of freaky owl-men who dress in very dapper attire.

Why Watch? Lawrie Brewster’s style is difficult to describe. It’s homegrown CGI mixed with animation and live-action that’s been tossed in a blender set to homage. We previously experienced the bizarre world of Turnip Head, but this short is a new breed with similar sheep’s clothing. It’s a salute to Abel Grance’s 1927 war epic Napoleon by way of Guy Maddin. It’s also a jarring, pristine experience. What will it cost? Only 8 minutes. Skip Work. You’ve Got Time For More Short Films

Why Watch? Difficult to describe with its unconventional style and strange blend of live-action layered into an antique animation that’s equal parts cut-out and hand-drawn. It’s something like Salvador Dali meets Terry Gilliam. Either way, both would smile to see this. Perhaps the most endearing element is the sound design – done entirely by human voices not-at-all-trying to hide that they’re human voices. It’s definitely different, but it’s beautiful. Plus, there’s a lesson. One taught with the tongue planted so firmly in its cheek that it draws blood. What will it cost? Only 2 minutes. Skip Work. You’ve Got Time For More Short Films