Now You See Me, Now You Don't

Introduction

Hungarian filmmaker Attila Szász graduated from Budapest film school and learnt his trade making commercials and music videos before making his first short Most látszom, most nem látszom (Now You See Me, Now You Don't) in 2005.

A success on the festival circuit, the 30 minute film begins with a woman boiling water on a hob while her six year old son, Alex plays around her. When she shouts at him for getting too close to the cooker, he runs and hides. Her husband returns from the laboratory with a box and a cage with two mice, having told her that his work is finished.

The next day, Alex turns invisible!

Video

A very good transfer in the letterboxed 2.35:1 format, the colours are excellent and Szász' mise-en-scène is impressive.

Audio

You have the choice of Hungarian DTS 5.1, Dolby Digital 5.1 or PCM stereo. I didn't bother with the stereo track, but both of the 5.1 options are clear and extremely atmospheric.

Extra Features

Trailer.

Conclusion

There is something to be said for a film that runs for 30 minutes, including credits, yet involves you enough in the characters and story to deliver a blow to the solar plexus two thirds of the way through that completely throws you.

This is an extremely impressive piece of work with solid performances from the cast, especially Dóra Létay as the mother. Mixing mystery, thriller and elements of horror in such a short time would seem to be a recipe for disaster, but Attila Szász has made a fine film that deserves recognition. It will be interesting to see what he can do in a feature film.