Horror uniquely weaves many genres into one. That’s part of what makes it such a special medium. With his new short film, writer/director Jonjo Lyons knits drama, mystery, and horror into a gripping tapestry. Better Anything feels akin to An Unquiet Grave in tone, story, and visual identity. But it firmly carries its own gnarly style, as it drills down to themes of regret, retribution, and paying the price for our sins. By leaning into a character-driven drama, the horror slides to the back burner—until Lyons decides the right time for it all to be unleashed upon the viewer.
When we first meet Tommy (Benjamin O’Mahony), he’s digging in the woods. Sweat beads across his brow, and the sun slyly peeks through the canopy above. Tommy’s friend Alice (Abigail Hardingham) heckles him good from the sidelines. Their conversation is a little off, hinting at something brewing just below the surface. We don’t get a clear picture of what exactly they’re talking about, but we see Tommy agonizing over it while attempting to widen the hole in the ground.
Lyons pens a script that feels honest, even raw, to real life. Tommy and Alice aren’t exaggerations of character archetypes. They are living, breathing, and bleeding human beings. Better Anything masterfully engages with what it means to be alive, the sins we must repent for, and if there’s anything we can do to rectify the damage we’ve done. When you really think about it, everything has a price, and Jonjo Lyons’ Better Anything forces the audience to confront the past.
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