I recently discovered the Found Footage subgenre of Analog Horror. The variation being heavy reliance on the aesthetics in looks and sound of vintage and archaic forms of media. VHS and cassette tapes are used to present the story. The graphics are fuzzy. The sound is analog and has an uncanny feeling to it. Tapes will glitch out, distorting images and sounds as needed. It’s the limitations of the technology that add to the eeriness.
“Bad Boy, Oliver” is one such gem.
The seven-minute short was written, animated, and voiced by YouTube horror channel Mr. Friend. It tells the story of eight-year-old Oliver, who is staying at his aunt and uncle’s house.
The narrator describes Oliver’s brief journey, and his immediate concerns. The room he will be staying in contains a creepy rabbit puppet his uncle identifies as Mr. Bobo.
Is Mr. Bobo alive? Is he going to hurt Oliver? Or is it all in the imagination of a child?
True Terror
The stop motion animation is eerie on its own. The story is one that will keep you hooked. And the ending is something only the most devilish of horror writers could conjure. It’s something that couldn’t be dared with human actors.
“Bad Boy, Oliver” is true terror.
