"Demon in the Bottle" (Award Winning Short Film about Alcoholism 2026)

Описание: Demon in the Bottle

Tempted by the thought of an afternoon drink, a young woman comes face to face with a sinister presence.

Synopsis:
Annice is a recovering alcoholic. She’s had a hard life and alcohol has always been the answer. So when she walks into a bar in the afternoon, it looks as if she is about to resume her old ways. Annice is almost able to resist until a well-dressed stranger appears at the bar. He is assured in his movements yet there is an air of mystery surrounding him. His presence is utterly beguiling and Annice is drawn towards him like a moth to a flame. She watches intently as he flicks open his lighter to light his cigarette. He is cool and sophisticated and when he beckons to the barman to bring two drinks, Annice finally succumbs to his will. The stranger continues to err her on, until a sudden moment of clarity makes her reflect on what she is doing.

Links:
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Laurels & Commendations:
New Renaissance Film Festival 2023 – Winner (Best Animated film)
Jazzies Film Festival – Official Selection
Romford Horror Film Festival – Nominee for Best Film Under 5 mins

Director’s Statement:
“We all have our demons. That voice in the back of our head. The influence that can push us too far. A thought, a feeling, a temptation. One more piece of chocolate, one more episode, one more pint… Are you in control?

Most of us are aware of the feelings of anxiety that are associated with alcohol dependency: the guilt, the self-doubt, the self-sabotage. But I also want to show the seductive nature of addiction. How our inner voice ‘speaks’ to us: enticing, persuading, corrupting, until finally we succumb to its will. It’s as if the addiction is a separate entity forcing us into a course of action that we know is inadvisable. Hence the ‘demon’ in my film.

The figure is deliberately hidden in the shadows - covertly calling the shots from the depths of the protagonist’s subconscious. He is well-dressed and sophisticated, and initially appears to be the ‘perfect gentleman’. But all is not as it seems. This figure is manipulative and cunning, slowly tempting Annice to take another drink. He is the short-term answer to her long term woes.

As a filmmaker during the COVID-19 lockdowns, I felt a lack of control and frustration. I wanted to make films but my efforts were inhibited at every turn. In its own way my desire to make films is in itself a craving - a need, a longing, an itch that needs to be scratched. When I reflect on these emotions, I realise that I have a lot in common with the protagonist.

The intention behind this film is to show the sense of dependency experienced by so many of us in everyday life. I want to convey the message that we all struggle with our inner demons, and when we feel overwhelmed it’s okay to ask for help. We’re only human after all. – Evan Preston (Writer/Director/Animator of Demon in the Bottle)

From Presto Films comes "Demon in the Bottle", written, directed & animated by Evan Preston. Music by David Hamilton, Sound designer Ryan Shrimpton

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